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.
Philippines blames China for loss of giant clams in disputed shoal and urges environmental inquiry
Dengue cases surpass 80,000 in Sri Lanka so far this year
Death toll rises to 30 in Japanese quakes: local gov't
Strike takes place in Jordan to support Palestinian people in Gaza
WHO chief warns no functional hospital exists in north Gaza
Interview: China responsible, proactive player in global climate governance, says Kuwaiti expert
Mexican president to challenge U.S. new anti
Dodgers acquire pitcher Yohan Ramírez from Mets for cash
Quavo takes swipe at Chris Brown's history of domestic violence and calls out his ex
Who is Jacob Zuma, the former South African president disqualified from next week's election?
Palestinian death toll rises to 22,438 in Gaza: ministry