HIV Found in Blood From The Red Cross

Canada Red Cross used HIV 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), 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.

Finally, the Red Cross has accepted responsibility for their part in the tainted blood tragedy
John Plater, Canadian Hemophilia Society

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/1/hi/world/americas/4595039.stm

Why did it take so long for them to admit they screwed up?

Does Canada now test donated blood for AIDS?

In the US there was a scandal during the mid 80s which I believe led to blood testing.

The article was a little unclear + the scandal here was in the 80's too. It just took the Canadian Red Cross 20 or so years to admit that they'd done anything wrong.

Even so the Canadian Red Cross has done a lot of good for people in need, it's just that they are a bureaucracy like any other + if there is one thing that a bureaucracy hates it's to look at itself and admit any degree of wrong doing.