Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1997. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
The Associated Press; Wednesday, November 26, 1997; 6:43 p.m. EST
In his long-awaited report, Judge Horace Krever gave no hint, however, at how much such a move might cost.
The government already has offered compensation to the 1,200 people infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, because they were given tainted blood by the Canadian Red Cross in the early 1980s.
Krever suggested that authorities also compensate Canadians who became infected with hepatitis C through the tainted blood. The number of people in this category had been estimated at 12,000, but Krever said there could be as many as 28,000.
Under a no-fault system recommended in Krever's report, people would lose the option of seeking damages in court. Krever argues lawsuits are too costly and time-consuming.
The report was not as hard-hitting as many Canadians had expected and it did not single out individuals for blame. However, it leveled criticism at virtually every agency involved in Canada's blood-supply system in the early 1980s.
"The principal actors in the blood system ... refrained from taking essential preventative measures until causation had been proved with scientific certainty," Krever said. "The result was a national public health disaster."
Health Minister Allan Rock said the federal government accepts Krever's criticisms of its role in the tragedy. "We are sorry for all that has happened," Rock said.
The judge said the Canadian Red Cross "did not carry out risk-reduction measures assiduously" when information about the nature of the HIV menace emerged.
Krever said a new national system for the collection and delivery of blood products should be created and regularly audited. The federal government has already announced plans to create a new agency, taking away that task from the Red Cross.
The United States began testing blood for HIV in April 1985, but Canada didn't start national testing until about six months later. Provincial health authorities let the Red Cross police itself, saying they did not have sufficient expertise.
Copyright 1997/The Associated Press. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Permissions Desk, The Associated Press, 50 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10020.
971126
AP971126
Copyright © 1997 - Associated Press. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the AP Permissions Desk.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation, and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1997. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 1997. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .