Nova Scotia mom wants policy change for organ, tissue donors after gay son's death

Liam Dee, shown in a handout photo, died from a rare cancer and knew his organs were too damaged to donate but his husband and mother were surprised that even his tissues, including corneas, bones and skin, were rejected because of his sexual orientation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

When Liam Dee began receiving hospice care shortly after starting his nursing career, he knew the rare cancer that had ravaged his body meant his organs were too damaged to donate. But the 26-year-old was grateful his tissues, including skin, corneas, tendons and bones, could still go to people who needed them.

However, his tissues were rejected when he died last November, said his mother Cindy Gates-Dee, who learned from reading her son's medical records that his "homosexual status," as noted on a screening form by a tissue specialist, meant he was declined as a high-risk donor because he'd had sex with another man in the last five years.

The 春色直播 Press. All rights reserved.

More Health Stories

Sign Up to Newsletters

Get the latest from 春色直播News in your inbox. Select the emails you're interested in below.