Health

‘True culpability has been obscured’ in the infected blood scandal

The inquiry into the biggest treatment disaster in NHS history has revealed shocking cover-ups and delays by the UK government. But the role of pharmaceutical companies—with whom this all began—should not be forgotten

By Cara McGoogan

May 20, 2024

Infected blood victims and campaigners protest on College Green in Westminster, London. They carry placards which read "Dying for justice" and "Justice delayed is justice denied".

Infected blood victims and campaigners protested on College Green in Westminster in February 2024. They will return to Westminster on Monday to hear the inquiry’s conclusions. Photo: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo

{
  "id": "eswHCxhTsQ",
  "parentBlockId": "ejgJX3-NsZ",
  "parentTemplateId": 129,
  "widgetTypeId": 200,
  "label": "Article Body",
  "baseLayoutCssClass": "gc-col-12",
  "cssClass": "",
  "position": 0,
  "visible": true,
  "additionalItems": {
    "width": 100,
    "tagName": "div",
    "widthUnit": "%",
    "widthUnits": "%",
    "customStyles": ""
  },
  "configuration": {}
}

Cara McGoogan is author of The Poison Line: Life and Death in the Infected Blood Scandal and reporter of the award-winning investigative podcast Bed of Lies

NHS Health Medicine and Pharmaceuticals UK