Posted on 03/06/2006 6:34:13 PM PST by Plasmaman
Brits given US Aids blood
Deadly ... the HIV virus
By EMMA MORTON Health reporter
BRITISH patients were given blood donated by Aids-ridden American prisoners in a shocking medical blunder, The Sun can reveal.
Blood from Arkansas State Jail was used at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, US lawyers have confirmed.
Official figures show at least 3,000 Britons were infected with HIV or Hepatitis C from US blood in the 1970s and 80s.
Of these 1,250 had HIV. And just 384 are still alive.
The Sun has established that a “handful” of these received prisoners’ blood. The true figure could be far higher. Last night there were calls for an inquiry as the Government admitted it KNEW prisoners’ blood was given to haemophiliacs.
Hospitals used the US blood despite a 1975 World Health Organisation resolution warning against use of blood from paid donors.
The Department of Health said yesterday that it did not know if the warning was passed on. Three US firms are alleged to have paid donors from high risk groups, including prisoners.
Lawyers have won settlements for 8,000 US haemophilia sufferers (a genetic condition which prevents clotting) after they were given infected blood.
In 2002 the UK Government promised an inquiry if it was proven infected blood came from a US prison. No inquiry has taken place.
Margaret Unwin of the Haemophilia Society said: “We want a public inquiry, to understand exactly why the tragedy occurred.”
Public Health Minister Caroline Flint said: “We are aware that during the 1970s and 80s blood products were sourced from US prisoners.
“Many patients would have died without blood products. The Government of the day acted in good faith. We do not feel a public inquiry would provide any benefit.”
Sun Health Editor Jacqui Thornton writes: Would haemophiliacs have accepted this blood if they knew where it came from? Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt must look at this urgently. The Government WAS warned.
clinton Legacy Bump!
in the 1970s and 80s.....
More for your Clinton Downside collection
National Enquirer stories are more reliable that stuff from The Sun. I would post a story from The Onion, before posting one from The Sun.
Thanks Bill. Still giving after all those years.
BTW notice that he looks like sh!t now? Reminds me of The Portrait of Dorian Grey.
wasn't this one of those clinton scandals?
Ok, the Sun is the equivalent of the National Enquirer. That isn't exactly grade 'A' news source. Except for alien encounters and Diana conspiracy theories.
yes FR wrote the book on this one!
Huh??? How is this considered "news"?
There were more than a few FR threads on this topic in the 90's.
There was a minister in France that was sent to prison because of tainted Arkansas blood.
ping
Bill Clinton, we thank you.
It WAS a Clinton administration scandal.
Of course, they are "reminding everyone" now, hoping it will hurt the Bush administration.
No mention of Clinton by name anywhere in the article.
No, that's an unfair comparison -- the Sun is not a National Enquirer. A better comparison is the New York Post.
yeah I remember when I was a lurker at the beginning and they were talking about this. I remember hugh sprunt...
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