Canada Red Cross Used HIV & Hep-C Tainted Blood

The Red Cross in Canada has pleaded guilty to distributing contaminated blood
supplies which infected thousands of Canadians with HIV and hepatitis C.

More than 3,000 people have died since getting the tainted blood in the 1980s.

The blood scandal is widely regarded as one of the worst public health disasters
in Canadian history.

The organisation now faces a fine of up to C$5,000 ($4,000 £2,200), but charges
of criminal negligence could be dropped as part of a deal with prosecutors.

For the first time, the head of the Canadian Red Cross, Dr Pierre Duplessis, has
apologised to the victims and their families.

In a video-taped message shown in court, Dr Duplessis said the Red Cross
accepted responsibility for distributing harmful products to those that relied
on the charity.

Transfusions

More than 1,000 people became infected with HIV and as many as 20,000 others
contracted hepatitis C through blood transfusions and blood products.

Many of the victims were haemophiliacs.

Mike McCarthy, spokesman for the Canadian Hemophilia Society (CHS), said: "How
can anyone be satisfied? Thousands of people lost their lives.

"Hundreds and hundreds of people are living with these fatal viruses today.

"There's no great outcome here for anybody that's gone through the tainted-blood
scandal."

John Plater, Ontario president of the CHS, said: "Finally, the Red Cross has
accepted responsibility for their part in the tainted blood tragedy.

"It's the least they can do for the sake of victims who have waited two decades
for someone to be held accountable."

In 1997, a public inquiry strongly criticised the Canadian Red Cross, which had
run the country's blood supply system for decades.

As a result, the Red Cross was stripped of this role and was replaced by a
government agency.

The blood scandal also led to several lawsuits against the Red Cross.

After years of legal wrangling, the charity has decided to plead guilty to
distributing the contaminated blood.

It said it would donate C$1.5m ($1.2m) towards medical research and educational
scholarships.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4595039.stm
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