Man Becomes The First Living HIV-Positive Gay To Donate Kidney
Karl Neumann has become the “second living person with HIV to donate a kidney in the U.S. and the first HIV positive gay man to be a living donor,” according to ‘Washington Globe’.
“It made me pause being one of the first people but then I realized what a great opportunity it was. We are still in the research phase of transplanting organs HIV-to-HIV, and the more procedures that have a successful outcome means more lives saved,” Neumann said.
As a sexually active gay man, Neumann is banned from donating blood because of federal law.
“It’s frustrating that there are shortages of blood, but certain people are still restricted from giving blood at a time when modern medicine can easily test for diseases.”
A 2013 law allows HIV positive patients to receive organs from HIV positive patients, living or deceased. Therefore Karl was able to donate his kidney and become the first HIV-positive gay man to be a living donor.
“Donating a kidney with HIV is normal and it can happen,” said Karl. “Being HIV-positive does not put me in danger or make me ill. I am healthy and will likely live a longer life than most people, and for that I am grateful. The least I could do was pay it forward and give life to another human being.”
Read related myGwork articles here:
American Red Cross Steps In And Asks FDA To Reduce Wait Time For LGBT+ Donors
New Zealand Launches World’s First HIV Positive Sperm Bank
Babies Born With HIV Should Start Treatment Right Away
Michael Shares His Story of Living with HIV
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