The Infected Blood Scandal: A Tale of Medical Malpractice and Negligence

The podcast episode discusses the British Infected Blood Scandal of the 1970s and 80s, where over a thousand hemophiliac patients were infected with HIV and hepatitis through contaminated blood products, leading to the death of three-quarters of the infected patients. The episode explores the revolutionary treatment of factor concentrates, particularly factor eight, which enabled hemophiliacs to prevent bleeds and live pain-free lives. However, these blood products, mainly imported from the US, were contaminated and transmitted deadly diseases. The role of doctors, who continued administering these products despite knowledge of their danger, and the complicity of pharmaceutical companies are highlighted. The government's responsibility, including the decision to import rather than produce the blood products domestically, is also examined. The survivors' fight for justice, the need for a statutory public inquiry, and the importance of compensation and truth-telling are highlighted.