LONDON (AP) — British authorities and the country’s public health service knowingly exposed tens of thousands of patients to deadly infections through contaminated blood and blood products, and hid the truth about the disaster for decades, an inquiry into the U.K.’s infected blood scandal found Monday.
An estimated 3,000 people in the United Kingdom are believed to have died and many others were left with lifelong illnesses after receiving blood or blood products tainted with HIV or hepatitis in the 1970s to the early 1990s.
The scandal is widely seen as the deadliest disaster in the history of Britain’s state-run National Health Service since its inception in 1948.
Former judge Brian Langstaff, who chaired the inquiry, slammed successive governments and medical professionals for “a catalogue of failures” and refusal to admit responsibility to save face and expense. He found that deliberate attempts were made to conceal the scandal, and there was evidence of government officials destroying documents.
Strictly star Giovanni Pernice's former partner Rose Ayling
China news: July exports tumble by double digits, adding to pressure to shore up flagging economy
Public servants want to know if management positions will be on the chopping block
Hong Kong's exhibition centre axed booking for concert without reason, says pro
Everybody may love Raymond, but Ray Romano loves Peter Boyle
Pressure grows on Angela Rayner to quit as Labour deputy leader over housing row police probe
Hong Kong down to earth designer Niko Leung crafts ceramics from construction waste
VOX POPULI: Young texters have rendered punctuation marks obsolete
Saudi Arabia is going to sponsor the WTA women's tennis rankings under a new partnership
VOX POPULI: Leadership skills of the past are missing in the politics of today
Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. to lead Indianapolis 500 field in Corvette pace car
Gay Games Hong Kong unfazed by potential censorship, organiser says