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.
Shooting injures 2 at Missouri high school graduation ceremony
Women Become Major Force in China's Tourism Consumption Market
People Enjoy Chinese Lunar New Year Holiday Across China
China's Xinjiang to Invest 182 Mln Yuan in Preschool Education
Celebrity birthdays for the week of May 26
Various Folk Cultural Activities Held to Celebrate Lantern Festival in China
Across China: Competition in SW China's Chongqing Inspires Students to Innovate, Start businesses
Chinese EV makers gaining traction in Dutch market: ING economist
Investigators return to Long Island home of Gilgo Beach serial killing suspect
Half of China's Population Aged 65 to 69 Use Smartphones: Survey
NBA playoffs: Edwards leads Wolves to 98
Chinese EV makers gaining traction in Dutch market: ING economist