A recent inquiry into the U.K.’s infected-blood scandal found that 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 for decades. An estimated 3,000 people are believed to have died after receiving tainted blood from the 1970s to the early 1990s. The scandal is considered one of the deadliest disasters in the history of Britain’s National Health Service.
Judge Brian Langstaff, who chaired the inquiry, criticized successive governments and medical professionals for prioritizing reputation over patient safety and refusing to admit responsibility. The report revealed deliberate attempts to conceal the scandal, including the destruction of documents by government officials.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak issued an apology to the victims, calling it a “day of shame for the British state.” A compensation package of $12.7 billion is expected to be announced to address the historic wrongs.
The report highlighted that many deaths and illnesses could have been avoided if the government had taken steps to address the risks associated with blood transfusions and blood products. The UK imported contaminated blood products from the United States, leading to thousands of people being infected with HIV and hepatitis C.
Campaigners have fought for decades to bring official failings to light, and the inquiry finally shed light on the truth after four years of reviewing evidence from over 5,000 witnesses and 100,000 documents. The report serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of the infected blood scandal in the UK.
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