Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Lebanese MP Imad Al-Hout, following his meeting with the Grand Mufti of the Republic: Lebanon is the last country to move toward peace and normalization [with "Israel"]
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One martyr reported in Israeli drone strike targeting motorcycle in Ain Qana.
Israeli media: Sirens sound in Nahal Oz settlement in Gaza Envelope.
Syria: Local sources report that General Security forces targeted the camp of French fighters from the 'al-Ghuraba division' in the Idlib countryside with mortar and tank shells.
Syria: Local sources report a general military mobilization of foreign fighters in Idlib following armed clashes in the “French Camp” in the Idlib countryside.
Syria: Local sources report that International Coalition forces carried out an airdrop operation on a house in the village of al-Kassar, eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.
Local sources: 3 killed, 7 injured in attack on transport bus in Idlib countryside, Syria
The 'French faction' in Idlib announces that Syrian security forces are preparing to attack its camp amid accusations that it is collaborating with ISIS.
Palestinian media: Israeli occupation forces storm the Old City in the center of Nablus, occupied West Bank
Local sources to Al Mayadeen: Sudanese army forces drones strike town of Kabkabiya, North Darfur.

UK shredded key files amid infected blood deaths lawsuit panic

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 5 May 2024 13:23
  • 2 Shares
4 Min Read

An official inquiry has informed that missing documents prevented victims from uncovering the truth.

  • x
  • Blood products (AFP)
    Blood products (AFP)

Ministers in the UK denied knowledge of disastrous failures in the contaminated blood scandal for decades, despite documents showing destruction, loss, and restricted access to key files, according to memos submitted to the official inquiry.

Shredded batches of files related to a blood safety advisory committee indicate government actions amid legal threats. Patients affected by contaminated blood also reported the destruction or initial withholding of their hospital records. The scandal resulted in about 3,000 deaths from tainted blood products. Labour MP Dame Diana Johnson, advocating for victims' compensation, highlighted that governments resisted inquiries due to undisclosed failures until 2017.

Labour MP Dame Diana Johnson, an advocate for victims' rights and fair compensation, suggested that ministers managed to deflect demands for a public inquiry due to the absence of disclosed documents revealing the extent of failures. She highlighted that until 2017, successive governments maintained the stance that there was no necessity for a public inquiry, asserting that all procedures were conducted appropriately.
 
Beatrice Morgan, a senior associate solicitor at the law firm Leigh Day, representing approximately 300 individuals impacted by the scandal, stated that there was, at minimum, a significant mishandling of documents. Many of their clients suspect a deliberate cover-up and intentional misinformation.

A flashback 

In 1987, David Owen, a former health minister, requested his ministerial documents due to concerns that officials had disregarded his advice in the 1970s regarding the UK's self-sufficiency in concentrated blood products, a measure that could have prevented numerous deaths. However, Owen's office received incorrect information stating that his papers had been destroyed.

Related News

India to enforce WHO drug standards after deadly cough syrup scandal

Heads of Japan pharma company resign over scandal linked to 80 deaths

The Department of Health and Social Care has acknowledged during the inquiry that Owen's "ministerial papers should have been available at this time" and has subsequently issued an apology to him.

In late 2004, Lord Jenkin, a former health secretary, reached out to the department regarding access to documents related to contaminated blood. A briefing document prepared for a meeting with him revealed that many essential papers from the 1970s and 1980s had been destroyed. It was noted that these papers were not properly archived and were unfortunately disposed of in the early 1990s.

Additionally, the inquiry has learned that multiple sets of minutes and background documents from the Advisory Committee on the Virological Safety of Blood were shredded between 1994 and 1998. These files were destroyed during a period when officials were informed of the potential for significant litigation related to infected blood. Moreover, this destruction occurred after ministers faced charges in France over the scandal involving the poisoning of hemophiliacs.

The government has admitted that the destruction of files "was clearly wrong and should not have occurred." An internal audit determined that "an arbitrary and unjustified decision most likely taken by an inexperienced member of staff” was the probable cause.

A lawyer representing the health department informed the inquiry that the documents from the advisory committee had been largely “reconstituted”, and many other documents previously thought to be lost have been located since. Advocates argue that the failure to disclose these files over several years resulted in the concealment of the extent of the shortcomings that led to the scandal for an extended period.

Jason Evans, the founder of the Factor 8 advocacy organization, whose father Jonathan passed away in October 1993 due to HIV and hepatitis C contracted from a tainted blood product, stated, “What has happened has been a mixture of deliberate concealment and incompetence. By claiming documents had been destroyed, it also stopped campaigners looking for them. These files would have shown that all the risks were known all the way through and what happened could have been avoided.”

Read next: Relatives of NHS blood scandal victims urge Sunak for compensation

  • Pharmaceuticals industry
  • Aids and HIV
  • Hepatitis C
  • United Kingdom
  • Contaminated blood scandal

Most Read

Yemeni Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari , during a ceremony in an undisclosed locations in Yemen, undate (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemeni Armed Forces mourn martyred Chief of Staff al-Ghamari

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
How an Israeli-backed firm spied on US churches to push propaganda

How an Israeli-backed firm spied on US churches to push propaganda

  • Politics
  • 15 Oct 2025
From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025
Smoke and fire rises after 'Israel' launched airstrikes on the village of Ansar, Lebanon, October 16, 2025 (social media)

'Israel' launches two waves of brutal strikes on east, south Lebanon

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
An Israeli settler stands over a woman who was harvesting olives after assaulting her, October 19, 2025 (social media)
Politics

West Bank sees 757 Israeli settler attacks in one year

The OpenAI logo appears on a mobile phone in front of a screen showing part of the company website in this photo taken on Nov. 21, 2023 (AP)
Technology

OpenAI unveils new search browser built around chatGPT

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, from right, and War Secretary Pete Hegseth listen as President Donald Trump meets in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Monday, October 20, 2025, in Washington (AP)
Politics

‘Your mom’ politics take over Trump administration

Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem during a public address on October 21, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

Sheikh Qassem: Lebanon stability depends on ending Israeli aggression

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS