Britain: Head of public inquiry into tainted blood scandal calls for compensation for victims

The head of the public inquiry into a major tainted scandal blood at Britainwhich had killed nearly 2,400 people in the 1970s and 1980s, suggested compensation £100,000 for each of the victims.

THE Brian Langstaffa retired judge presiding over the inquiry which began in September 2018, recommended to the government “that an interim payment be immediately made to all persons affected and to all their bereaved companions. The amount must not be less than £100,000′i.e. 119,000 euros.

Thousands of hemophiliacs contracted hepatitis C and AIDS after being transfused with US-imgd blood under the auspices of the NHS, Britain’s National Health Service.

Lawyer Des Collins, representing the victims, welcomed the recommendations. “Although it comes too late for the thousands of people who have died tragically in the years since they were infected, these recommendations are a welcome development for some of those who are still living with the tragic consequences of a medical error that could have been avoided. », he stated. He added that he is now awaiting the government’s response to these recommendations.

The decision to hold a public inquiry to shed light on this drama was taken in 2017 by the British government.

A previous inquiry completed in 2009 found the government should have acted sooner to increase UK blood stocks and end reliance on imports.

The investigation had led to the creation of a victim compensation scheme but no trial had been held and no culpability had been determined.

In September 2017 the High Court in Britain allowed the victims of the scandal to bring a class action for damages.

Source: News Beast

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