Contaminated blood scandal in the United Kingdom: Difference between revisions
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On July 11, 2007, [[Kelly Duda]] testified at the Lord Archer Inquiry on Contaminated Blood in the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]]. The British inquiry aimed to uncover the British government's part in a scandal that led to thousands of infections and deaths. Duda gave evidence as to the United State's role in the tragedy in what Lord [[Robert Winston]] has dubbed as "the worst treatment disaster in the history of the [[National Health Service]]"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/society/health/haemophilia+grant+protest+at+lords/2493022|title=Haemophilia grant protest at Lords|author=PA News|publisher=[[Channel 4]]|date=2008-10-09}}</ref>. |
On July 11, 2007, [[Kelly Duda]] testified at the Lord Archer Inquiry on Contaminated Blood in the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]]. The British inquiry aimed to uncover the British government's part in a scandal that led to thousands of infections and deaths. Duda gave evidence as to the United State's role in the tragedy in what Lord [[Robert Winston]] has dubbed as "the worst treatment disaster in the history of the [[National Health Service]]"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/society/health/haemophilia+grant+protest+at+lords/2493022|title=Haemophilia grant protest at Lords|author=PA News|publisher=[[Channel 4]]|date=2008-10-09}}</ref>. |
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'''Background''' |
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In the late 1970s and early 1980s, 4,800 British haemophiliacs were infected with Hepatitis C through their NHS treatment. 1,200+ of those people were also infected with HIV, the virus that leads to AIDS. Of those 1,200, more than 800 people have already died. Hundreds more have died from Hepatitis C. 170 non-haemophiliacs were also infected with HIV and countless infected with Hepatitis C through contaminated blood. Many of those people have also died. |
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During the late 1970s and early 1980s, haemophiliacs began using a revolutionary new product to treat their condition. 'Factor concentrates' were heralded as the way forward in haemophilia treatment, pharmaceutical companies began harvesting blood from the cheapest possible sources in order to make as much of the product as they could. |
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As haemophiliacs began using the products, it soon became apparent that something was wrong. People began dying. In their haste to push out as much factor VIII and IX as possible, the pharmaceutical companies had been sourcing donor blood from extremely dubious places. People known to be habitual drug users or those participating in homosexual activities, prostitutes, and other people with infectious diseases such as HIV and various strains of Hepatitis were routinely allowed, and in many cases paid, to give blood The companies themselves would then pool the plasma together with hundreds of other donations, thus contaminating many thousands of units of factor concentrate. This product was then shipped around the world and given to thousands of haemophiliacs. |
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In Britain, more than 4,800 haemophiliacs were infected with Hepatitis C, and 1,200 of those with HIV. Many have already died from their infections. In the case of those given HIV, only 380 or so people are still alive. Additionally, many spouses, partners and loved ones of those infected through blood have themselves become infected. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 15:55, 13 February 2010
Contaminated blood was given to many thousands of people in the United Kingdom during the 1970s and 1980s.
On July 11, 2007, Kelly Duda testified at the Lord Archer Inquiry on Contaminated Blood in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The British inquiry aimed to uncover the British government's part in a scandal that led to thousands of infections and deaths. Duda gave evidence as to the United State's role in the tragedy in what Lord Robert Winston has dubbed as "the worst treatment disaster in the history of the National Health Service"[1].
Background
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, 4,800 British haemophiliacs were infected with Hepatitis C through their NHS treatment. 1,200+ of those people were also infected with HIV, the virus that leads to AIDS. Of those 1,200, more than 800 people have already died. Hundreds more have died from Hepatitis C. 170 non-haemophiliacs were also infected with HIV and countless infected with Hepatitis C through contaminated blood. Many of those people have also died. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, haemophiliacs began using a revolutionary new product to treat their condition. 'Factor concentrates' were heralded as the way forward in haemophilia treatment, pharmaceutical companies began harvesting blood from the cheapest possible sources in order to make as much of the product as they could. As haemophiliacs began using the products, it soon became apparent that something was wrong. People began dying. In their haste to push out as much factor VIII and IX as possible, the pharmaceutical companies had been sourcing donor blood from extremely dubious places. People known to be habitual drug users or those participating in homosexual activities, prostitutes, and other people with infectious diseases such as HIV and various strains of Hepatitis were routinely allowed, and in many cases paid, to give blood The companies themselves would then pool the plasma together with hundreds of other donations, thus contaminating many thousands of units of factor concentrate. This product was then shipped around the world and given to thousands of haemophiliacs. In Britain, more than 4,800 haemophiliacs were infected with Hepatitis C, and 1,200 of those with HIV. Many have already died from their infections. In the case of those given HIV, only 380 or so people are still alive. Additionally, many spouses, partners and loved ones of those infected through blood have themselves become infected.
See also
References
- ^ PA News (2008-10-09). "Haemophilia grant protest at Lords". Channel 4.