Australian men are currently not allowed to donate blood for one year after a sexual encounter with another man but the latest review from Red Cross hopes to reduce this waiting period.
Ben Henry, a 26 year old with haemochromatosis, is one of many men hoping for rules to change as he has about half a litre of blood drawn every week to tackle the high iron levels caused by the disorder and is currently unable to donate it like many people with the same disorder usually do.
The last time the service suggested a reduction in the waiting time, authorities knocked it back and the debate has been ongoing for decades since homosexual men were banned from donating blood in Australia following the HIV and AIDS crisis in the 1980s.