Blood donor row exposes racism in

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Racists in this country, from politicians like Enoch Powell to scientific 'experts" like Professor Hans Eysenck, usually deny that their ideas are based upon racial prejudice.

DUE CYCE DOW aDO ERCI BaCts come to light which break through the continued cover-up of the NaziIke attitudes towards black people which exist throughout our society.

Just such a story has crupted this past weck, It uppeurs chat the director of the North London Blood Transfusion Centre, Dr Eom Ciegnom (who iabo a medical linector of the National Blood TransFusson Services), regularly prevents large quantities of blood from being used in translasicins- decanse the donors are bick Their blood & colsidcred to be fit for reseunch purposes only.

Cleghorn is quoted by the Sanday Timer ar saying 'Colourod donors ane Bot ccany weicome as cons, but, ne added, 'It imposiblo to bar them. IC you said "No black donars wanted" you can nagane me acaduncs.

Clegbomn, of course, denies racul prejudice. In the fradition of pentocl racism, he has a workod-out medical excuse for this incredible polcy.

greator risk of infoctious hepatitis-a disease that can he transmitted through the blood-trom black donon than trom white, Since the greater risk is supposedly CUALU MH CR TUSL DuR of black donors is labelled TA' (tropical anca) and shuttled off to the latioratorios.

However, as the Sunday Times has pointed out, rouline tests for hepsetitis ane regularly cunducted on all blood collocted Dy Tac mansrusion pentres, ana seera! miodical experts confitned chat they had bever encountered a case of hepatitis being transmitted througli blood transTuvions. The Deparunont ol Health and Social Security has stated that it does not consider hepatitis to be a sutticien tly hig problem in this country to roguire special saleguatds.

the blood trom white donors who come from tropical or semi-tropical zones is Tomes did reveal that the blood of black donors bom in this coactry (who may. never have beon closer to the tropios than Brighton) i labelled "TA' This incident is a porsurful rominder of the intlucnor and dostructiveness of racism in this country, It is a scundal bold any position in the health service. much less be allowed to translate lis attitude into ofticial policy.

CAAL ONEN Rled Weekly 12 April 1974 Page 6