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Blood scandal: Canadian Red Cross fined Associated Press | June 1, 2005 The Canadian Red Cross has pleaded guilty to distributing tainted blood in the 1980s, which infected 1000 people with HIV and 20,000 with hepatitis C.
The organisation apologised for its role in the scandal and was fined $ 4000 in the public health disaster. After receiving the tainted blood products, about 3,000 people had died by 1997. The death toll has since risen but recent estimates weren't available. Public apology The Secretary General of the Red Cross issued a public apology demanded by survivors of the victims and played via videotape in the courtroom. On the tape, Dr. Pierre Duplessis said the charity accepted responsibility for "having distributed harmful products for those that rely on (the Red Cross) for their health". He said the Canadian Red Cross Society was "deeply sorry" for the injury, death and suffering caused to families and loved ones of those who were harmed. In exchange for the guilty plea and public apology, prosecutors dropped criminal charges against the charity, including criminal negligence and common nuisance. 'Incomplete justice' However, some say it's not "full" justice because the Red Cross admitted no criminal responsibility. The organisation pleaded guilty only to violating the food and drug act, admitting it distributed blood tainted with HIV and hepatitis C. As part of the deal, the crown agreed to drop five counts of a more serious criminal charge. Federal prosecutor John Ayre insists the fine was adequate given the Red Cross's status as a humanitarian organisation, noting that it's no longer involved in blood collection or distribution. The charity will also set aside $1.2 million for scholarships for family members of those affected, as well as a medical research project. The Canadian Red Cross has already paid victims $55 million in a separate fund. Canada Red Cross used HIV blood The Red Cross in Canada has pleaded guilty to distributing contaminated blood supplies which infected thousands of Canadians with HIV and hepatitis C.
More than 3,000 people have died since getting the tainted blood in the 1980s. The blood scandal is widely regarded as one of the worst public health disasters in Canadian history. The organisation now faces a fine of up to C$5,000 ($4,000), but charges of criminal negligence could be dropped as part of a deal with prosecutors. For the first time, the head of the Canadian Red Cross, Dr Pierre Duplessis, has apologised to the victims and their families. In a video-taped message shown in court, Dr Duplessis said the Red Cross accepted responsibility for distributing harmful products to those that relied on the charity. Transfusions
Mike McCarthy, spokesman for the Canadian Hemophilia Society (CHS), said: "How can anyone be satisfied? Thousands of people lost their lives. "Hundreds and hundreds of people are living with these fatal viruses today. "There's no great outcome here for anybody that's gone through the tainted-blood scandal." John Plater, Ontario president of the CHS, said: "Finally, the Red Cross has accepted responsibility for their part in the tainted blood tragedy. "It's the least they can do for the sake of victims who have waited two decades for someone to be held accountable." In 1997, a public inquiry strongly criticised the Canadian Red Cross, which had run the country's blood supply system for decades. As a result, the Red Cross was stripped of this role and was replaced by a government agency. The blood scandal also led to several lawsuits against the Red Cross. After years of legal wrangling, the charity has decided to plead guilty to distributing the contaminated blood. It said it would donate C$1.5m ($1.2m) towards medical research and educational scholarships.
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