This Monday, May 20, marks a major day for victims of tainted blood in the United Kingdom. Between the 1970s and 1980s, several thousand hemophiliacs and tens of thousands of transfused patients received blood products carrying the HIV or hepatitis C virus – potentially fatal diseases. Nearly 50 years later, no one is officially held responsible and victims have only received partial compensation. Today, a public inquiry must present its report
2 mins
With our correspondent in London, Emeline Vin
Among the hundreds of witnesses heard in the public inquiry, Colin Smith lost his son Colin in 1990, who died of AIDS at the age of 7.
“ I want responsibilities to be established, within the government, of the health authorities. I want a public apology – but I don’t expect it. We have been ignored, despised “, he confides.
The public inquiry cannot lead to convictions… But the judge at its head is already demanding rapid compensation. Robert James, HIV positive for 40 years, testifies:
“ I received an interim payment of £100,000 last year. The government paid me support allowances, but they were not compensation. It’s a legal strategy: dragging things out until we’re all dead “, he declares.
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The final amount could approach a million euros. Within the hepatitis C patients’ association, Samantha May always supports contaminated transfused patients. She expects a lot from this day:
“ It’s going to be an emotional day. We have waited decades. Hopefully we understand what went wrong, who was responsible, what could have been done. I hope that the suffering of the victims will be recognized “.
More than 3,000 people have already died from contaminated blood.
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