Contaminated Blood Scandal

[goodgoalie]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-48104413

I have to say that this is one of the most upsetting and shocking things to have happened in Britain for decades. How these poor people have been treated is nothing short of appalling, and successive governments should hang their heads in shame. Even now, when the full extent of this scandal is about to be revealed, all the Government can manage is to offer is an increase to the fund to help the victims which amounts to a derisory £900 per person. Funny how the Government can find £14 billion every year to give away to foreign countries in aid, but cannot offer decent care and compensation to the thousands of victims. Maybe they're waiting for them all to die so they don't have to bother.

I hope this inquiry gets to the root of what happened, and if there was cover-up those responsible should be brought to justice.

[naomi24]

It's frightening.

[youngmafbog]

I think this is quite a complicated subject. IT will all hinge around how much could or did people know at the time. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but we should never judge people in the past over something well known now.

Second is the 'bought to justice' thing. If someone has committed a crime then yes, if they are still alive. However if someone made a mistake then I do have reservations, especially over something a long time ago.

What is the real scandal is in your observations that we ship over £14bn to overseas aid, usually to be trousered by some tin pot dictator, but don't seem to be able to look after people caught up in these sort of incidents in our own back yard. That is the disgrace.

[KARL]

Don't expect the full extent to be revealed.

[youngmafbog]

Why not?

[KARL]

This is the UK, transparency is a cultural anathema - and the medical profession is involved, and big business, and.....

[Peter Pedant]

not knowing much about this.....
the decision to change was 1977 - before HIV ( called HTLV III ) was described.
Hep C was NANB hepatitis - non A non B Hepatitis and seemed to come from nowhere ( or transfusion ) and wasnt measurable. Chronic hepatitis was known - Chronic active and chronic persistent but not much else and wasnt linked to NANB hepatitis

as for keeping it secret
of course it was kept secret - you have no idea of the stigma attached even to Hep B
Easily enough to get you fired and from getting another job

and now time for a joke
On the HIV ward lunch was being served whilst an observer was there, who commented - I cant believe so many patients have chosen welsh rarebit

and the nurse replied - well it is the only thing we can get under the doors ! ter daaah !

Medical and nursing staff were reminded that they could NOT decide who to treat and who to ignore on a ward....