Thousands of victims of infected blood scandals suffered “incredible misfortune,” said former Prime Minister Sir John Major.
Sir John was asked during an infectious blood investigation hearing on communications within the government when it became clear that compensation for the victims of the scandal was needed.
Infection of up to 30,000 people with HIV or hepatitis C from contaminated blood is called the greatest therapeutic disaster in NHS history.
After contaminated blood products were imported from the United States in the 1970s and 1980s, thousands of prisoners, sex workers, and drug addicts paid to feed blood often died.
Sir John was asked about a letter he wrote while serving as Chief Secretary of the Treasury in November 1987. A positive reaction, it would seem to have a very real danger.
“How can we fence such a precedent? That can lead to an unlimited commitment in a huge dimension.
“Don’t it cause a lawsuit against the government because of the effects of negligence?
“Did the law firm give an opinion on the possible consequences of a sympathetic reaction?
“I don’t think we can afford to do that until we thoroughly consider the pros and cons.”
“Aggressive and luxurious”
When asked about the letter at the hearing on Monday, Sir John said he pointed out that pros and cons must be considered, including how much compensation should be provided.
He described the effects of the scandal on victims as “fear,” adding:
“What happened to them was incredibly unlucky-terrible-and it wasn’t that everyone was sympathetic.”
Sir John’s comment that they were “incredibly unlucky” victims drew an angry gasp from some of the people who attended the investigation.
Victims have long believed that the extent of the contamination scandal was concealed.
In response to Monday’s comments, Clive Smith, president of the Hemophilia Society, said in a statement: “Unlucky” is aggressive and self-satisfying.
“His evidence reminds us that successive governments over the last three decades have refused to accept responsibility for this treatment accident, and the denial continues.
“Even now, people have died of infectious diseases in the 1980s and have died without justice.
“People infected and affected by HIV / AIDS and hepatitis C caused by infected blood and coagulation factors prescribed by NHS continue to fight for accountability, proper recognition and compensation for their suffering. I am. “
Thatcher would have accepted the settlement
Sir John later said that if Margaret Thatcher had been offered an agreed settlement on compensation for infected blood victims, she would probably have accepted it.
He answered the question that she has some “hawkish” views, but they were not universal.
He states: “People who don’t know Mrs Thatcher assume that Mrs Thatcher’s legend is the real Mrs Thatcher, to a much greater extent than she is admitted.
“It may not have been universally true, but in my experience it was often true.”