Mary Scanlon, Conservative MP for Highlands and Islands, submitted the following written question:
"To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence supports the banning of people with myalgic encephalomyelitis from giving blood."
which was answered by Dundee East, MSP, Shona Robison in the Scottish Parliament on 11 November 2010, as follows:
"Following a recommendation in July 2010 by the UK Blood Services Standing Advisory Committee on the Care and Selection of Donors and the Joint Professional Advisory Committee, from 1 November 2010 across the UK, those with a history of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome are permanently deferred from donating blood for the protection of their own health. This decision was made to bring the donor deferral criteria for those in this group into line with those with other relapsing conditions, such as multiple sclerosis."
View the official entry in Parliamentary Business.
