Victims suffer from ‘bad luck’, John Major describes investigation into scandal that left 30,000 people with HIV

Former Prime Minister Sir John Major said in an investigation that the thousands of victims of the tainted blood scandal were “incredibly unfortunate”.

Sir John spoke at a hearing for the Infected Blood Inquiry, which investigated the contamination of infected blood to 30,000 people with HIV or hepatitis C in the 1970s and 1980s.

In what has been called the largest therapeutic disaster in NHS history, thousands of people died after contaminated blood products were imported from the US, often by inmates, prostitutes and drug addicts.

The independent investigation was announced in 2017 and began hearing evidence in 2019.

Sir John was questioned at a hearing on government correspondence when it emerged that compensation would be sought for the victims.

He was asked in a letter he wrote in November 1987 while serving as Treasury Secretary, in which he wrote: an answer, it seems to have very real dangers.

“How can such a precedent be maintained? It can lead to great open-ended commitment.

Couldn’t it lead to a lawsuit against the government for negligence?

‘Do law firms have an insight into the possible consequences of a comprehensive intervention?

I don’t think we can give such an answer without properly weighing the pros and cons.”

He told the inquiry that he emphasized that the pros and cons should be considered in the letter, including the amount of compensation that should be offered to victims.

“There is no compensation you can give to make up for what happened to them.

“What happened to them was incredibly unfortunate – it was terrible – and it wasn’t something anyone was unhappy with.”

His statements fueled the anger of some involved in the investigation.

Later, Baroness (Margaret) Thatcher added that if she had received an agreed-upon agreement on compensation for victims of blood stained, she would likely have accepted it.

“People who don’t know Miss Thatcher assume that the legend of Miss Thatcher is the real Miss Thatcher,” he said.

“But underneath the inflexible Iron Lady legend was someone who often gave up and looked at things with a much more human eye than was attributed to her.

“It may not be true everywhere, but in my experience it was most of the time.”

Following Sir John’s comments, Clive Smith, president of the Hemophilia Society, said: “Sir John Major’s evidence that more than 3,000 people with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders have suffered and died due to contaminated NHS treatment is both humiliating and ‘bad luck’. and he is satisfied with himself.

His evidence is reminiscent of how successive governments have refused to take responsibility for this therapeutic disaster over the past 30 years – and the denial continues.

“Even now people are still dying from an infection they got in the 1980s and dying unjustly.

“People infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C, caused by infected blood and coagulation factors prescribed by the NHS, continue to fight for responsibility, adequate recognition of their suffering and reparation.”

Des Collins, senior partner at Collins Solicitors and representing some of the victims, added: “Besides the ‘bad luck’ blunder, Sir John was genuinely sympathetic to the victims this morning. Yet his proof was restrained, as expected.

“What he made clear was that the government clearly understood that day that there was a problem and that they were concerned about avoiding the full cost and consequences of a negligent act that they knew would certainly follow up.”

Jason Evans, founder of the Factor 8 campaign group, said he “suspects families will have a lot more questions.”

“I don’t think John Major was particularly sincere in his argument,” he said. “His comments about bad luck contradict all the evidence we’ve heard – expert evidence.

“I think it shows how ignorant I am in this area. “There are people, families and victims who are very angry, upset and frustrated by what is said in the room,” he said.

Victims have long been convinced that this contamination scandal has been covered up.

He told the investigation that “what happened to them (the victims) was incredibly unfortunate”.

Denise Turton, whose 10-year-old son died after contracting HIV from contaminated blood products, said the comments were “terrible to hear”.

“I’m just so angry,” he said.

“Hearing that is bad luck, especially after what happened to my son. Like so many others, he died and all he said was bad luck.

‘I can’t really say what I mean. The only bad luck is that the government doesn’t listen.

“They were told about the products and they didn’t listen: this is bad luck, not what happened to my son and many others”.

Martin Beard, a 50-year-old doctor with hemophilia, said he had been tested for HIV unknowingly at the age of 14, and only one doctor had told him he had the condition during three appointments, according to evidence heard from previous investigations. year later. .

It wasn’t the first time he’d seen a 1985 letter between hospitals in 2006 that said, “We learn that he has HTLV 3 antibodies (HIV) positive, but he’s not aware of it and you don’t want it disclosed”. We will do everything possible to meet your wishes.’

He told the inquiry: “People are responsible.

“I’m not going to sit here beating doctors because I don’t think all doctors started their careers to hurt people.

“They make mistakes along the way. They’re human.

“Sometimes they overlook why they’re there. But it just gets louder.

“There are parliamentarians who are responsible and have to respond, and I believe the time for justice has come.”