How the British state covered up the deaths of 3,000 people | Infected blood scandal

Cara McGoogan is a journalist and author of The Poison Line: Life and Death in the Infected Blood Scandal.
She came by JOE Towers today to break down the ins and outs of the infected blood scandal: how it began, and the cover-up spanning across decades and governments both red and blue.
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[@silvio25432]

My dad was infected with Hepatitis C, my great uncle died from liver damage because of Hepatitis. The trauma that my family has been through was denied for 40 years, so the reason our reaction to the inquiry was so large and positive is mainly due to our experiences finally being validated. Sir Longstaff went above and beyond, but even the night before the inquiry was published we just had a feeling it wasn’t going to address the fact of what happened. It astonishes me how this hasn’t gotten more traction in the public eye; this was virtually a systemic genocide of an entire generation of haemophiliacs.

[@judithmatthews8460]

In 1979 I haemorrhaged. My UK gynaecologist refused to allow me to have a blood transfusion. The A&E doctor was fuming. I’d lost a lot of blood. But the gynaecologist was adamant and arrived within minutes. I was immobilised for days until my blood levels became normal. The gynaecologist was a highly respected guy who lectured in the states . I’ve always wondered why he was so adamant that I was not to be given blood. Did he suspect there was a problem?

[@kathrynhobbs8874]

In the mid 80’s I gave a bone marrow donation with the Anthony Nolan charity, and was quite surprised that the doctor in charge assured me that they would take a bag or two of my blood and store it, so that should anything go wrong during the collection of the bone marrow, I would only be given my own blood back. I I said I thought I would be happy to have anybody’s blood, and he said, for it stuck in my mind as odd, you wouldn’t if you knew.

[@Thelma7361]

Its deliberate. The British state protects itself first and foremost especially from the law and accountability. Injustices are kicked down the road for decades on purpose.

[@mrcontrarian1416]

This was private companies you numpty

[@fylbike]

Who starts wars? Who fight them? - All you need to know

[@SamUploads420]

I also share the sense that people haven't gripped the scale of the scandal, or the multitude or outrageous failures.

[@Morf3000]

I have Von Willebrands and was having Factor 8 injections in 70's and 80's. I didn't contract anything which is a miracle but I was ostracised at school and couldn't make friends cos parents didn't want their kids round someone that could have AIDS.

[@bertnijhof5413]

Profits first, human life second.

[@sonophos9884]

Another scandal I knew about 20 years ago that is still not resolved.

[@derekwhite2929]

Caroline might be tired, although I think it's unlikely she's as tired as me who's spent over 20yrs struggling to get rid of the HCV I acquired with a plasma transfusion in 1978/9!

[@conormcinnes4384]

How has it taken this long. The Golden Girls, literally did an episode about infected blood transfusions and HIV back in 1990. The knowledge of this have been there for a long long time. With it only seeming to be The Golden Girls having the courage to speak about it for decades

[@AndyRossism]

Oh well remembered, think I know the one, Innocent Rose fears she may have HIV and doesn't handle it well cos she thinks its a thing for people like Blanche to have

[@geekexmachina]

You wonder if there should be an international body to deal with big companies and multimillionaire we are increasingly going to have situations where people and companies can get away with things by hiding in another country etc.

[@darthlazurus4382]

Too late for that. They've spent years influencing and infiltrating governments all over the world.

[@michaeladkins6]

The blood inquiry, the post office inquiry, the covid inquiry...

[@Ghengiskhansmum]

Miners strike a lie, Hillsborough a lie, Windrush a racist disgrace, Grenfell not far behind. Britain's politicians and the Monarchy despise the general public.

[@kathrynhobbs8874]

The banking collapse, the Iraq enquiry, Leveson…….one could go on and on, …..an enquiry = to ‘kick it into the long grass”

[@doma-f5y]

That is not mistakes. That is deliberate crimes. Somebody made huge profits on that. And Somebody in Britain perhaps cared ONLY if that plasma Is enough cheap, no matter at what costs. And hiding it And not helping the victims immediately makes IT even bigger crime. Unforgivable. Just imagine thé people even did not know how they got those diseases when they were diagnosed, when they suffered And died. Many of them perhaps blamed themselves or some other people.

[@capt.bart.roberts4975]

Myself and friends in the NHS, were screaming up about this, no-one took a blind bit of notice.

[@allanmckeown8417]

Big pharma ,like the tobacco companies can always find plenty of medical experts ready to defend them if the money's right.

[@heathermaich8966]

Is it possible that the NHS doesn't work? There are other health systems in Europe that seem to be better. Can we look at those? Not USA.

[@Ghengiskhansmum]

The blood cover up has nothing to do with affordability. At least it didn't when it first started under Ted Heath's conservative government.

[@hilcro1]

They were all affected by this across the globe even Germany who had one of the most stringent regulations... Read the book

[@geraintjames9785]

1991 I started working with the NHS we were all very aware of the blood scandal ask ken Clarke

[@hannahd4787]

A relative of mine was infected with HIV and died because of this. Just horrifying how little care was taken to protect hemophiliacs and their partners.

[@BeccaAl]

Thank you so much Cara, your book sounds fascinating. I really feel for the people who were infected and their families and friends. As you recounted stories of those you’ve met, who feel the disease they have, has been stigmatised and is still a taboo subject in some communities. Thank you for taking on the huge task of keeping track of this and documenting it in your book. I’m sure that means a lot to the affected people and is a permanent record of this blood scandal in print. Well done.

[@heathermaich8966]

Excellent interview

[@matthewstone1362]

You should rely on your government for many things (thru taxation). The truth is not one of them. Information is also off the table.

[@derekwhite2929]

Today's been really tough so far, as has every day of the last 5yrs and the previous 15yrs before that and the 30yrs before that & the 20yrs before that!

[@therealrobertbirchall]

😢 me too brother, remember we are the survivors. Peace

[@hilcro1]

Really feel for you... Absolutely disgusting the disregard the medical industry has for people..... I remember as a kid watching this on the TV I was born in 1976! It was plain as day from early on this could have been stopped in its tracks! I can't help but feel the worst Drs are just narcissists who have no place in a caring profession!.... I have the utmost respect for you and the other survivors.

[@derekwhite2929]

I'm seeing no sign yet that this isn't just a more elaborate whitewash than the Penrose inquiry! Another much bigger bonfire might be necessary!

[@capt.bart.roberts4975]

My local hospital still has my old file from when I was a kid. I'm dyspraxic, so I had a reserved seat there.

[@Coops5361]

Don't you just love deregulation?....

[@barking_mad6649]

Criminals, everywhere.

[@RandallSlick]

Lessons must be learned..........

[@elizabethdavis9119]

When have we heard that before.🤔

[@SusanScarrott]

But what about the experimental jabs?

[@hilcro1]

Or the experimental gender affirming "care"!..... Too much money and too many narcissists in medicine!

[@stevereber3358]

Prisoner Poker is part of the rodeo. Four sit at the table and if you leave, you lose and the bull might still get you, the bull picks off the seated "players" one at a time, last sitting wins. There is also a game where a sack of money is tied between horns and you have to get kinda close to try and get it.

[@pompey76]

I'd be interested to know whether there was any standard they had to procure this blood to at the time and what process there was. And whether it's changed since. I assume there must now be some kind of standard plasma is bought to, and some form of final check etc

[@fionaetienne1693]

My god. Never heard anything like it!

[@derekwhite2929]

And it's not just the public consciousness that you can't get this into, I've consistently failed to get it into both my friends acquaintances and virtually everyone I've been hiding this from for decades. .................... its tought me that there's no such thing as justice in the UK! I've got no faith whatsoever it's going to happen this time either.!?

[@derekwhite2929]

Here in the Midlands, where I am I'm not aware of any real empathy. None!

[@derekwhite2929]

As one of those victims, I'm absolutely certain that they'll keep kicking this ball backwards and forwards until long after we're all long gone. For me the HCV came free with a plasma transfusion Xmas 1978/9! Back when I worked for the NHS in drugs and HIV I had to have a hepB vaccination and had to have it done twice because the first one actually came back out of my arm like a piece of string! When leigh day looked into my case they gave up because of missing medical records! Most of the people I've ever spoken to about this dissociate because it's 'just too heavy'!

[@derekwhite2929]

Still reeling, and trying to find some benefit from the infected blood stuff coming out, myself! Especially since I got rid of the HCV in 2017, but how can I recover? Can I recover? Has so much damage been done, that I'm going to die anyway; even though I've been rid of the virus since 2017?

[@silvio25432]

My family have been affected by this scandal as well, with my father having gone through similar treatment as you. The timing of this call for a general election couldn’t be worse, and the fact that our only glimmer of hope is the passing of this Victims and Prisoners Bill is incredibly bleak. I wish you all the best in your health, Derek.

[@derekwhite2929]

@@silvio25432 Thanks, I can't help but think that the timing of this is disastrous since now they're in full blown general election mode everyone's going to be obsessed by that and all the infected blood stuff, including it's victims will soon be forgotten.

[@silvio25432]

@@derekwhite2929 perhaps it’s the cynic in me, but i already noticed how this has gained barely any traction in the public eye, even before the general election was called. The post office scandal seems to be getting more attention. There’s a docu-drama currently being written about it, which was what made the public gain interest in the post office scandal in the first place - I can only hope that it will shine some light on our scandal in the same way. Not to play ‘trauma Olympics’, or to attempt to diminish the impact of any other scandal, but it seems to me that the infected blood scandal has both killed and impacted the most lives than any other scandal in UK governmental history, so the fact that it hasn’t been claimed by the people’s consciousness in the same way that Hillsborough or the Grenfell has makes me feel even more defeated. You can’t blame them though, I guess there’s nothing else we can really do.

[@hilcro1]

Sadly perhaps rather cynically i don't think that was an accident.

[@derekwhite2929]

@@hilcro1 So thanks, but now what?

[@kathrynhobbs8874]

On a production point…..why on earth, especially when addressing such an awful topic do you have this stoic lady illuminated in ghoulish green?

[@cipherhex]

Ghoulish green has been their set-up since day one I'm afraid!

[@kathrynhobbs8874]

@@cipherhex needs a rethink, me thinks 🤔

[@AndyRossism]

From Xmas Island bomb test veterans, to Hillsbrough, Grenfell, The Posr Office, other examoks, too many times, people of this country have to fight for justice from the State. The great British state which said had our best interests at heart. The State which would like to take away even more of our rights.

[@AndyRossism]

Other *examples * bloody autocorrect not correcting

[@MARTINA-gc3tq]

Anyone pointed out it always involves the NHS and the civil servant “scientists “…….

[@derekwhite2929]

Been in touch with EIBSS, but it'll be dragged out until we're all dead as a hemophiliac I met from Banbury who's now long dead was right. This'll all be kicked into the long grass until you've all forgotten about it!

[@suethorpe1976]

Criminal charges yes i agree with. This ..its clear the government knew. But why didn't the doctor put there foot down and say no if they were worried about this stand up to the government and tell them to mind the own business we are the ones saving lives ..Butt out the government..

[@johndewever1322]

3k is tiny compared to that from the latest “safe & effective”…….

[@publicutility]

Correct me please. Vampire bane were given/ bought the uk blood supply to make a profit for the vampires? Recognizing there are complexities but,

[@publicutility]

Saving the public money ? Increased profits for the benefit of a few. Louisiana is arguably the most disgusting state government and injustice in the USA. Part of the 5th federal district court. Evil personified.

[@biddlybongdavinport5995]

Funny how no-one mentions the massive CJD cover up.. The Great British Beef Conspiracy.

[@therealrobertbirchall]

If i had to make my own coffin it would be a work of and. And it would take me 30 years to do it.

[@jeanmitchell5834]

🎉indeed we live in an evil world without doubt

[@Ghengiskhansmum]

Its says everything about the uk media and their joke journalists too.

[@paulgibbons2320]

But Andrew Brigden is deffinatly a conspiracy theorists.

[@odinallfarther6038]

Wait till the spike protien blood scandal yet anther unforeseen out come 🤔

[@fylbike]

Politician repercussions? Lessons will be learnt, we are v sorry, lets move on. Blame; no-one's fault

[@LimeyRedneck]

🤬

[@matthewstone1362]

Who thinks in another 40 yrs therell be another brave tenacious young person fighting to spread the story of the jab injured?

[@matthewstone1362]

@JaymanDW I had the MRNA. Before I could use informed consent.

[@matthewstone1362]

@@JaymanDW Never do your own research and always trust the science. Not the scientific method, just the science.

[@stanleystone8636]

Is this about Covid?!!!!

[@specialized500]

No

[@evolassunglasses4673]

No, that's the other big Phama and government cover up.

[@stanleystone8636]

@@JaymanDW a constructive reply would be appreciated. Tell me what is the difference between the current Covid situation and the blood scandal. Couldn't happen now? Couldn't happen then? Constructive answer please not mud slinging.

[@obtuse1291]

​@@stanleystone8636 As you raised the issue, shouldn't it be incumbent on YOU to at least start with some facts?

[@PeterGriffinfromFortnite]

​@@stanleystone8636 You asked if it's about COVID, it isn't. Are you slow?

Where are the riots?

[@therealrobertbirchall]

Sorry the 'news cycle' has moved on, nothing to see here.

[@Yossarian_Lives73]

Louisiana State Pen is named Angola, a former slave plantation. Very grim history.

[@peanutbutterbruv]

Any info on why it is called Angola? Angola was a Portuguese colony and I'm pretty sure the Portuguese didn't go to North America.

[@hilcro1]

is named "Angola" after the former slave plantation that occupied this territory. The plantation was named after the country of Angola, from which many slaves originated before arriving in Louisiana

[@peanutbutterbruv]

@@hilcro1 Thank you, that is really interesting information.