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.
Adams, Reyna, Turner, Ream are US concerns ahead of Copa America
Afternoon tea makes a comeback thanks to the snap
16,000 SQ FT home in Montana goes on sale for just $10
Elon Musk gets approval from FDA to implant his Neuralink brain chip into a second patient
Lucy Hale reveals what her current equation is with her Pretty Little Lies co
Prince Harry and William 'have no plans for a reunion during visits for King Charles' coronation'
Geena Davis, 68, wows in a figure
Dodgers acquire pitcher Yohan Ramírez from Mets for cash
Bella Hadid goes braless in a thigh
Michael Douglas, 79, reveals the moment he realised his wife Catherine Zeta