New Delhi, May 14 -- In a crucial hearing on petitions challenging the blanket prohibition on blood donations by transgender persons, gay men, and sex workers, the Supreme Court on Tuesday urged the Union government to consult medical experts to explore how the "discriminatory elements" of existing guidelines can be revised without compromising public health and safety.
A bench comprising justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh questioned the scientific basis and social consequences of the 2017 "Guidelines on Blood Donor Selection and Referral" issued by the National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC) and the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), under the Health Ministry.
Clauses in the guidelines classify transgender persons, men w...