MPs call for an Inquiry into the Contaminated Blood Scandal

Written by Aaron Dennis, April 25, 2017

A debate was held this afternoon in Parliament on Contaminated Blood led by Andy Burnham. Many other MPs from across the house rose to speak in support of those affected by contaminated blood products.

Mr Burnham provided evidence of medical records that were changed or contained false information, diagnosis of infection with blood-borne viruses that were not shared with patients and testing without permission.

He told how warnings of known risks of blood products, going as far back as the 1970s, particularly stemming from the use of high risk donors in the United States were not shared with patients and hidden. He also described unethical clinical trials on patients with bleeding disorders.

Mr Burnham described how thousands have been failed by successive governments. Calling for an inquiry, Andy Burnham described this as a “criminal cover-up on an industrial scale”. He said that the public need to know the full story.

The Haemophilia Society strongly support the call for a inquiry with power to summon witnesses and consider all documents including those withheld due to commercial sensitivity and to report on what happened and what could have been done differently. It must also have the power to consider evidence of negligence.

The Haemophilia Society hope that all parties standing in this election include in their manifesto a commitment to an inquiry into what happened that will deliver the truth and justice for all those affected.