The book claims that doctors knew in 1978 that using people with hemophilia as research subjects could lead to compensation claims. It was warned 45 years ago that mistreatment of hemophiliacs could lead to claims for compensation, a new book says, before the prime minister faces questions next week about his plans to compensate victims.
Rishi Sunak will testify in the blood poisoning investigation on Wednesday after Sir Brian Langstaff, chairman, took the unprecedented step of calling off a hearing to address the government's lackluster response to the compensation.
Number 10 ignored Sir Brian's recommendation that £100,000 be paid immediately to parents and children who lost contaminated blood and appoint a chairman to oversee full compensation.
New evidence to be published in The Poison Line in September shows that doctors knew in 1978 that using people with hemophilia as research subjects could lead to malpractice charges and claims for compensation.
“Investigating these patients too thoroughly could lead anyone who has been found to have chronic [hepatitis] to believe that they were initially treated sloppily and that a claim for compensation may be appropriate,” warned Dr. William D’Auvergne Maycock, head of the blood products laboratory.
Dr. John Kraske, a leading virologist, ignored the warning and continued to use unwitting patients to study the contagiousness of factor VIII, a blood product marketed as a «wonder cure» for hemophilia.
Will testify on contaminated blood on Wednesday. Photo: Max Mumby
Dr. Kraske had known since 1974 that hepatitis could be transmitted through factor VIII, but instead of warning physicians against its use, he conducted studies on patients.
By 1980, he noticed that half of the patients had signs of chronic hepatitis and there was a «high risk» of patients getting hepatitis C from factor VIII and factor IX.
“It seems likely that some patients will develop severe chronic liver disease over the next 10 years,” he said.
The Poison Line shows how some 1,250 people with hemophilia in the UK could have been prevented from getting HIV infection if leading doctors had paid attention to the risk of factor VIII hepatitis.
The investigation estimated that up to 6,250 people with bleeding disorders became infected with hepatitis C as a result of treatment, as well as about 26,800 people as a result of blood transfusion. By 2019, 2,900 people had died.
Jason Evans, founder of the Factor 8 campaign group, said: “What really matters is not just the planning and execution of these horrific experiments. The cover-up is shown in black and white.
“The cover-up is not just something that happened after the fact. The cover-up is something that has existed from the beginning.”
The revelations are contained in The Poison Line. the biggest medical disaster in NHS history.
In a letter to be sent to number 10 on Monday, the victims will urge Mr Sunak to immediately implement Sir Brian's recommendations for compensation.
“Many continue to die without receiving full compensation,” the letter will say. 'That can't be true.'
Those still waiting for £100,000 in milestone payments include the parents of 380 children who died after contracting HIV as a result of hemophilia treatment.
Mr Evans said: 'We've been out of money for three months now. Pessimism has set in and people are starting to feel pretty demotivated.”
Jeremy Hunt, chancellor, and Penny Mordaunt, leader of the House of Commons, are also due to testify.
In a written statement during the investigation, Ms. Mordaunt said, «The sooner we correct the mistakes made and provide adequate, fair and uniform financial support to all those infected and affected, the better.»
due to testifying to the investigation. Photo: Leon Neal/Getty Images
Collins Solicitors is threatening to reopen a pending malpractice lawsuit against the Department of Health on behalf of 1,500 victims, which was put on hold pending the outcome of an investigation later this year.
De Collins, a senior partner at the law firm, said: “The innocent victims of this scandal just went crazy. If ministers decide to continue to give trite answers to the investigation, the victims and their families will go to court for compensation.»
In an interim report earlier this year, Sir Brian said that «atrocities were committed at the individual, collective and systemic levels» and that compensation was «necessary and urgent».
In October last year, the government spent £4 million on an interim payment of £100,000 to people infected HIV and Hepatitis C.
Before becoming prime minister, Mr. Sunak called the blood-stained scandal a «tragic injustice» and said the government «must now back up words with action.»
The Poison Line by Cara McGoogan will be released September 28 (Viking)
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