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.
Why US Catholics are planning pilgrimages in communities across the nation
Upgrades badly needed for PM's residence
London police say chemical attacker presumed dead
Stricken Japanese Moon mission landed on its nose
Uber and Lyft say they'll stay in Minnesota after Legislature passes driver pay compromise
Fire kills 43 in Bangladesh capital
Week in Politics: Luxon stands out, benefit action under scrutiny and grief over Efeso Collins
EDITORIAL: Sustained wage hike trend also vital for smaller companies
Iran helicopter crash that killed President Raisi could reverberate across the Middle East
Woman charged with murder after man found dead in Hamilton
Bella Hadid goes braless in a thigh
Water reforms repeal could leave some councils out in the cold – mayor