Is it ridiculous to ask male blood donors if they could be pregnant?

BLOOD Donation is trying to recruit a million donors over the next five years. So can someone explain why a 66-year-old man who has donated 125 pints was turned away because he refused to answer the question: ‘Are you pregnant?’ (Mail) We need to use common sense and stop pandering to political correctness.

Mrs H. BLUNDEN, London E4. AS a long-time donor, I have to fill in the requisite forms. But I don’t take exception to any of them. The questions are gender non-specific, require only a yes or no answer and take a short time to read and tick appropriate boxes. They are there to protect the donor and recipient. I can’t believe a man took umbrage when asked if he was pregnant. RICHARD BROOKES,

Shaftesbury, Dorset. I AM 84, have been a blood donor for many years and am not insulted to be asked if I am pregnant.

Just make a joke of it, for heaven’s sake. My usual response is: ‘Not for want of trying!’ It raises a laugh and then we can get on with the important donation.

PETER WINDLE, Waterlooville, Hants.

I THOUGHT I was beyond being surprised by questions on forms in this gender-fluid age.

In this case, even if Blood Donation needs to know if he/she is pregnant, he/ she is past child-bearing age and so the question is not applicable.

A. J. MARSH, Milton Keynes, Bucks. HOW does Blood Donation think it is being inclusive by excluding someone who won’t answer a silly question?

ROBIN HEDDERLY, Portsmouth, Hants.

I AM a 68-year-old woman and if someone at my next blood donor appointment is stupid enough to ask if I might be pregnant, I will ask if their eyes are working properly.

RITA GOODWIN, Rainham, Kent. I WAS also asked if I was pregnant when attending the blood donor centre. I told them that if I was expecting at the age of 72, they would know about it as it would be splashed all over the newspapers.

B. THOMAS, Billingshurst, W. Sussex. THE form to donate blood is generic, so obviously a lot of the questions don’t apply to everyone.

I’ve donated 100 pints of blood and have never had an issue ticking the relevant boxes at every donation. No dedicated donor could be put off by one little tick. Life’s too short, especially if you’re in need of blood for your survival.

JULIE BAILEY, Leighton Buzzard, Beds. WHY isn’t there a box to tick saying ‘not applicable’? I would be tempted to suggest men tick yes to being pregnant just to show how stupid the question is. However, blood donation is an important life-saving service, so please just answer the question and continue to be a donor.

H. WESTGARTH, Enfield, North London. THIS ludicrous situation would be laughable if it wasn’t serious.

We need all the blood donors we can get to save lives. as a former academic researcher, I have noticed too many questionnaires take a one-size-fits-all approach.

I remember when questionnaire design was a serious business that had to undergo rigorous testing via pilot studies. The questionnaire should ask: are you able to conceive? The tick boxes should be: Yes/No/Don’t know/Not applicable. You should then be directed to different follow-up questions if you answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

M. DAWSON, Banbury, Oxon.