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. |
China issues guidelines to enhance management of community workersFrom yak dung to solar panels, Tibetans embrace modern heatingMaritime Silk Road art festival opens in QuanzhouEthnic village thrives on tourismCultural confidence glows via new ChineseArt reshapes rural scene in SW China villageFBI opens criminal investigation into Baltimore bridge collapse, AP source saysMaritime Silk Road art festival opens in QuanzhouChina issues stamps featuring UNESCO site Pingyao ancient cityVolleyball ignites latest rural sports passion on China's tropical island