Between 1970 and 1991, more than 30,000 people contracted HIV and hepatitis, of whom approximately 3,000 died. In parliament, Sunak apologized ‘wholeheartedly’ for this ‘terrible injustice’. “Today is a day of shame for the British state,” he added.
British authorities deliberately covered up a blood transfusion scandal between 1970 and 1991 that left more than 30,000 people contracting HIV and hepatitis, some of whom 3,000 have died already, according to an investigation that has already taken place five years and whose first conclusions came to light this Monday.
The working group known as Examination of infected blood states that the British authorities, including medical staff and the government, were aware that this situation had occurred since the establishment of the National Health Service (NHS) in 1948.
Despite this, they ‘repeatedly’ abandoned the victims and exposed them to ‘unacceptable risks’. The person responsible for the investigation, Sir Brian Langstaffhas described the extent of these conclusions as “horrifying” and that there was a deliberate intention to “conceal the truth”, according to the BBC.
One of the risks to which thousands of people were exposed was the repeated importation of blood products from abroad, including blood from high-risk American and British donors such as prisoners and drug addicts who were paid per transfusion.
‘This disaster It wasn’t an accident. The infections occurred because the authorities – doctors, transfusion centers and successive governments – did not prioritize patient safety,” Langstaff denounced, lamenting that this negligence has destroyed the lives of thousands of people.
The research shows that two groups are largely affected: people with haemophilia and conditions where the blood does not clot as it should – where contaminated blood was used, especially with hepatitis C – and those who received transfusions after childbirth, in accidents and during medical treatments. treatments.
The research was published in July 2022 and April 2023 two interim reports which recommended that the British government compensate those affected. A demand he accepted and initiated payments of up to £100,000 about 4000 survivors and their families, although compensation is expected to amount to billions of euros.
The British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, apologized “with all my heart” in Parliament on Monday for this “terrible injustice”. “Today is a day of shame for the British state,” Sunak began his solemn intervention before the House of Commons after the final report was released, “demonstrating a decades-long moral failure at the heart of our national life.”
“From the National Health Service to the civil service, to ministers in successive governments, at all levels, the people and institutions we place our trust in have failed in the most horrific and devastating way,” the Conservative government leader added.
“Time and time again, people in positions of power and trust had the opportunity to stop the transmission of these infections, but time and time again they failed to do so,” Sunak said, denouncing the “denial attitude” of public authorities. .
The Leader of the Opposition, Labour Keir Starmerhas joined the public apology and believes that what happened is “one of the gravest injustices” in the history of the UK, which has caused “indescribable suffering”.
Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
