Deathly decision to boost profits killed thousands in infected blood scandal
Deathly decision to boost profits killed thousands in infected blood scandal"
- Select a language for the TTS:
- UK English Female
- UK English Male
- US English Female
- US English Male
- Australian Female
- Australian Male
- Language selected: (auto detect) - EN
Play all audios:
A NEW ITV DOCUMENTARY REVEALS THE TERRIBLE TRUTH ABOUT BRITAIN'S BIGGEST MEDICAL DISASTER, THE INFECTED BLOOD SCANDAL 18:00, 20 May 2025 From 1970 until the early 1990s, an estimated
30,000 people across the UK were unknowingly involved in the infected blood scandal that was buried for decades. The story of the "worst treatment disaster" in the history of the
NHS is set to be explored in a new documentary, The British Blood Scandal: Poisoned at School, following survivors of the “hushed-up” scandal, and will detail their battle for the truth and
justice. Most victims had hereditary bleeding disorder haemophilia - whereby a person's blood doesn't clot properly - and were reassured that a new blood-clotting product, known as
Factor VIII, would give them a better chance at a normal life. READ MORE: Harrowing life with infected blood - 'too scared to plan and no point in pension' Instead, they were
infected with life-threatening diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C through contaminated blood products provided by the NHS. In 1974, in an effort to address the shortage of Factor VIII, the
NHS began importing blood products sourced from America where donors were paid. This encouraged them to lie about their medical past. Article continues below These imported products were
therefore often sourced from high-risk populations, including prisoners and individuals with substance abuse issues. As a result, the blood products were highly susceptible to contamination
with deadly viruses, further exacerbating the risks for patients relying on them for treatment. By 1976, concerns were emerging within the NHS about the safety of these imported blood
products. Internal memos and reports highlighted the potential risks of contamination, particularly with viruses like Hepatitis C, then known as non-A/non-B hepatitis. However, these
warnings are largely ignored, allowing the distribution of dangerous blood products to continue unchecked. The UK government failed to achieve self-sufficiency in blood products, leading to
increased dependency on imported Factor VIII concentrate. This product, sourced from large donor pools, carries a heightened risk of viral contamination. The failure to address these risks
effectively sets the stage for the widespread infections that would soon follow. In 1982, the US reported the first death of a man with haemophilia who'd been infected by AIDS. Other
warnings followed in 1983 in The Lancet and from the WHO, stating that haemophilia patients should be warned of the risks. At this time, The Haemophilia Society (THS) released statements
reassuring those with bleeding disorders that Factor VIII treatments were safe. The organisation later “apologised unreservedly” for these reassurances, which “while well-intentioned and
based on expert advice, have subsequently been shown to be damaging to the community and false”. The British government, as well as leading clinicians, failed to heed warnings and
didn't take appropriate action to switch back to safer products. Meanwhile, as per THS, pharmaceutical companies and clinicians also did not appropriately inform patients about the
risks. As chair of the inquiry, Sir Brian Langstaff, put it when handing down recommendations: "Wrongs were done at individual, collective, and systematic levels." It only took one
contaminated sample to infect the entire batch. Heat treating the products could have reduced risks, but this would have cut profit margins due to the product quantity being reduced. By
comparison, Canada, which also received infected blood products, made 'humanitarian payments' to victims beginning in the late 1980s, and by the 1990s, a public inquiry had been
held and compensation paid. Several organisations and individuals, including the Canadian Red Cross, also faced criminal charges. A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: "This was an
appalling tragedy, and our thoughts remain with all those affected. We are clear that justice needs to be delivered for the victims and have already accepted the moral case for compensation.
"This covers a set of extremely complex issues, and it is right we fully consider the needs of the community and the far-reaching impact that this scandal has had on their lives. The
Government intends to respond in full to Sir Brian's recommendations for wider compensation following the publication of the Inquiry's final report on 20 May 2024." The
2,527-page report from the Infected Blood Inquiry, published last year on May 20, found the scandal “could largely have been avoided” and there was a "pervasive" cover-up to hide
the truth. It identified a "catalogue of systemic, collective and individual failures" that amounted to a "calamity". Former prime minister Rishi Sunak issued a
"wholehearted and unequivocal" apology to the victims, saying the publication of the report into the disaster was “a day of shame for the British state”. Speaking to reporters on a
trip to Austria the following day, Mr Sunak said: "What has happened over decades has been a failure on multiple levels and it is important that yesterday was a day for the community
to be heard, and they have waited an incredibly long time for justice and the truth. "That is why I, rightly as Prime Minister, offered an unequivocal apology to everyone affected by
this appalling scandal. The infected, the affected, everyone impacted in the community, they have fought under considerable pressure facing prejudice over many decades. "Anyone reading
the report will have found it harrowing, indeed devastating, and I am glad that yesterday was a moment for reflection on everything that has happened, and their voices could be heard and
they received the apology that they so rightly deserved." Asked if there should be criminal prosecutions of those found to have done wrong during the course of the scandal, Mr Sunak
said: "As I said yesterday, anyone, people, individuals, where there is evidence of wrongdoing, of course there must be justice and accountability for that. "But the report is very
long, it is very comprehensive, and what I am committed to is the government will now take the time to go through it properly and rigorously before responding in Parliament, and, of course,
any individual cases will be a matter for the relevant authorities.” Following the publication, some victims of the scandal have restarted legal action against the government, with their
lawyer claiming there was a "misfeasance in public office". It was put on hold in November 2018 but has been relaunched, with around 500 victims putting their name to the lawsuit.
Article continues belowREAD MORE: Horrifying documentary about children poisoned in an NHS scandal is on TV tonight
Trending News
Woman’s death investigated in Rancho Palos VerdesHomicide investigators with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department were gathering details Thursday evening about a ...
Gerard Way Never Saw My Chemical Romance Going Past ‘Black Parade’Former My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way admitted in an interview with NME that he never saw his beloved emo outfi...
Hear Father John Misty Rock Gently on ‘Real Love Baby’Father John Misty has released a sublime new song, “Real Love Baby,” explaining the track with a succinct two-word descr...
Parineeti chopra on love, crushes and relationshipsThe spunky and spirited Parineeti Chopra on love, crushes and possibility of working with cousin PeeCee PARINEETI CHOPRA...
Dileep moves sc seeking early completion of trial in actor assault caseActor Dileep, who is an accused in the Kerala actor assault case, has approached the Supreme Court seeking directions to...
Latests News
Deathly decision to boost profits killed thousands in infected blood scandalA NEW ITV DOCUMENTARY REVEALS THE TERRIBLE TRUTH ABOUT BRITAIN'S BIGGEST MEDICAL DISASTER, THE INFECTED BLOOD SCAND...
House republicans stockpiling for 2018House Republicans have a tough campaign cycle in 2018, so they need a larger political war chest than usual. They'r...
Two dead, three injured in huntington beach stabbing. One person is in custodyA person is in custody after several people were stabbed Thursday night in Huntington Beach, leaving two dead and three ...
HC ban defied? ‘Chooral muriyal’ ritual with young boys performed at Kerala templeIt is a controversial ritual involving minor boys that was banned by the Kerala High court in 2017.But according to sour...
‘I am completely healthy’, says VS Achuthanandan after being overlooked for CM’s postMarxist veteran V S Achuthanandan, who was sidelined by the CPI(M) for the Chief Ministerial post, on Sunday said he was...