AEGiS-NYT: Britain: Report on Infected Blood Sidesteps Blame

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2009. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Britain: Report on Infected Blood Sidesteps Blame

The New York Times - February 24, 2009
John F. Burns

A long-awaited report on Monday described the use of contaminated blood products in Britain's National Health Service in the 1970s and '80s, infecting thousands of hemophiliacs with H.I.V., hepatitis and other conditions, as a "horrific human tragedy" and "the worst treatment disaster" in the 60-year history of the publicly financed health system. The study, which was privately financed and was conducted over two years, was by Lord Peter Archer, a former law minister. It found that more than 1,700 of the 5,000 people who underwent transfusions with the infected blood products died, and said that many of the products came from American suppliers that obtained blood from prison inmates and other "skid row" donors. Lord Archer recommended that the government pay compensation to survivors and victims' families, and provide free counseling, physiotherapy and home nursing to those in need. "It is a bit late to say who is to blame," he said. "What the government ought to address is the needs of the people now."
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