66-Year-Old Man Barred From Donating Blood After Refusing To Answer If He Was Pregnant

A 66-year-old man looking to donate blood was been turned away from a blood donation center in the U.K. after he refused to answer a question if he was pregnant with a child, reports said.

Leslie Sinclair, a veteran blood donor who has donated around 59 liters of blood over the past five decades, approached Albert Halls clinic in Stirling, a city in central Scotland, last week to carry out his benevolent routine, NY Post reported.

The staff at the clinic, however, barred Sinclair from donating blood after he refused to answer if he was expecting a child or had been pregnant in the previous six months.

Sinclair said he understands the requirement to know the medical conditions of donors, but could not comprehend the need for him to answer that particular question in the form.

"I told them that was stupid and that if I had to leave, I wouldn’t be back," Sinclair said, Washington Examiner reported.

Although Sinclair told the staff that the question on the form does not apply to him, they reportedly insisted stating that he would be allowed to donate blood only if he answers the question.

Meanwhile, Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) officials said they have included the question as part of their "duty to promote inclusiveness".

SNBTS Director Marc Turner said that due to the "changes in society", the agency was compelled to ask all donors the particular question before the appointment.

"Whilst pregnancy is only a relevant question to those whose biological sex or assigned sex at birth is female, sex assigned at birth is not always visually clear to staff," Turner said.

Sinclair who was upset with his experience said he decided against returning to the clinic to donate blood. "I am angry because I have been giving blood since I was 18 and have regularly gone along. I’m very happy to do so without any problem," Sinclair said.

Talking about how he felt when the staff insisted he answer the question on the form, the man added, "It is nonsensical and it makes me angry because vulnerable people are waiting for blood, including children, and in desperate need of help. But they’ve been denied my blood because of the obligation to answer a question that can’t possibly be answered."