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. |
Domestic terrorism, political violence seen as top threat to U.S. interests in 2024: surveyIndia's antiDeath toll from Israeli attacks surpasses 30,000 in Gaza, humanitarian crisis worseningAlaska judge finds correspondence school reimbursements unconstitutionalRecord storms in California lead to surging deadly fungal infectionsMexico's president accuses U.S. of stirring mudslinging in mediaThick blanket of fog in Pakistan's capital affects routine lifeOrban fears prompt Michel quit UWHO warns of persistent threats from COVIDVisitors are seen on camera damaging rock formations at a Nevada recreation site