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.
Analysis: Larson enters conversation with Verstappen as best drivers in the world
Morphine shortage across New Zealand impacting patients in palliative care, new stock months away
Revealed: The 25 safest airlines for 2024
More toll roads coming, but at what price?
Uber and Lyft say they'll stay in Minnesota after Legislature passes driver pay compromise
King Charles leaves hospital as Kate recovers at home
More toll roads coming, but at what price?
Bella Hadid goes braless in a thigh
Taiwan's Golden Horse a holdout for uncensored Chinese cinema