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Guest
.."Even when safer heat-treated versions came along, it was left to
local physicians to
decide whether to use them. Many apparently chose to use up non
heat-treated material first. "..Some patients are convinced they were
tested secretly..And in some cases, even when those tests showed they
were HIV positive, the patients themselves were not told for several
years.
"When Mr Mackie saw this, he examined his records.
He has discovered that although he was infected in 1984, he was not
told until 1987.
And strangely, the words "Aids study" were clearly written in his
medical notes before he was infected. Mr Mackie is convinced he was
part of scientific attempts to understand the virus behind Aids, but
he was not told."
= = =
Blood safety warnings 'ignored'
By Susan Watts
BBC Newsnight, Science editor
Evidence UK scientists ignored warnings that could have prevented
people with haemophilia being given contamined blood has been seen by
the BBC.
The Newsnight programme has seen documents suggesting experts were
aware of the threat at an early stage, but transfusions were not
stopped.
In the 1970s and 1980s, 4,500 UK haemophilia patients were exposed to
lethal viruses in blood products.
Two thousand have since died of either Hepatitis C or HIV.
Successive governments have resisted attempts to hold a full inquiry.
As a result campaigners have organised a private inquiry which will
hold its first hearing on Wednesday.
It is generally accepted that many people with haemophilia became
infected from supplies of the clotting agent Factor 8 from abroad.
Unbeknown to them at the time, much of the plasma used to make Factor
8 came from donors like prison inmates in the US.
These prisoners were allowed to sell their blood even though there
were questions over their health.
Lack of knowledge
Successive governments have said politicians, civil servants and
doctors simply did not know enough about the dangers of Factor 8
concentrates to stop using them in time.
It has been difficult for those affected to challenge that, as many
official documents have mysteriously disappeared.
The government claimed some were shredded, and it has refused to
release others on grounds of "commercial confidentiality".
Relatives of some of those who have died have managed to get hold of
some of these documents over the course of many years.
They show show many knew a lot more, much earlier than has ever been
admitted.
Key letter
One of the most shocking is a letter from the head of Britain's public
health surveillance centre warning the Department of Health about the
risk of Aids from Factor 8 after Britain's first case in Cardiff.
Why weren't we warned of the risks?
Robert Mackie
It calls for all US imports to be banned.
This was May 1983, before most people with haemophilia in the UK
became infected with HIV.
The letter says: "I have reviewed the literature and come to the
conclusion that all blood products made from blood donated in the USA
after 1978 should be withdrawn from use until the risk of Aids
transmission by these products has been clarified."
Despite this warning, Factor 8 imports continued to be used.
Even when safer heat-treated versions came along, it was left to local
physicians to decide whether to use them.
Many apparently chose to use up non heat-treated material first.
Secret tests
Some people with haemophilia have told us they are convinced, after
studying the paperwork, that they were secretly tested, without their
knowledge or consent.
And in some cases, even when those tests showed they were HIV
positive, the patients themselves were not told for several years.
One of those was Robert Mackie. At the time, he had only mild
haemophilia, and did not even need to be on Factor 8.
He said he would never have taken it if doctors had told him about the
risks.
"They are saying they didn't know about the Aids virus.
"I'm sorry. By June 1983 when the European Commissioners put out a
warning that all haemophiliacs in Europe, including the UK were to be
informed of the risk of Aids. Why weren't we warned of the risks?"
Not told
Mr Mackie discovered by accident that his doctor, Professor
Christopher Ludlam of the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, was doing a lot
more than looking after patients.
In a medical newsletter in 1990, Professor Ludlam described a unique
group of patients in Scotland that had formed the basis of several
years of important research he had published on Aids.
When Mr Mackie saw this, he examined his records.
He has discovered that although he was infected in 1984, he was not
told until 1987.
And strangely, the words "Aids study" were clearly written in his
medical notes before he was infected.
Mr Mackie is convinced he was part of scientific attempts to
understand the virus behind Aids, but he was not told.
Patient group
He has discovered that in April 1983 - before he was infected - Aids
specialists at one of the US's top medical institutions wrote in the
Lancet about how valuable it would be to locate a group of haemophilia
patients in a country not yet affected by Aids.
That was the position that the UK was in at the time, and Professor
Ludlam offered up his patients in response.
We approached Professor Ludlam him but he said he had a duty of
confidentiality to individual patients - even though Mr Mackie himself
wants answers.
He declined to speak because of a potential investigation by the
General Medical Council.
There is intense pressure now on the privately-funded inquiry that
starts tomorrow, and it has got heavyweight backing.
It is being chaired by the former solicitor general Lord Archer of
Sandwell.
Several former health ministers have already said they will appear,
and haemophilia patients hope it may convince the government to
release any documents it is still sitting on.
Government response
The Department of Health said in a statement it had been open and
transparent on the issue in the past.
It said it was reviewing all documents on hepatitis C from 1970-1985,
including some which had previously been considered missing from a
firm of private solicitors.
"Reference to HIV is made in some of the documents, and we plan to
release as many of these documents as possible."
A full report will be broadcast on Newsnight on BBC 2 at 2230 BST on
17 April.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/6562909.stm
Published: 2007/04/17 16:05:25 GMT
= = = =
STILL FEELING LIKE THE MAINSTREAM U.S. CORPORATE MEDIA
IS GIVING A FULL HONEST PICTURE OF WHAT'S GOING ON?
= = = =
= = = =
Sorry, we cannot read/reply to most usenet posts but welcome email
FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://EconomicDemocracy.org/wtc/ (peace)
http://economicdemocracy.org/eco/climate-summary.html (Climate)
And http://EconomicDemocracy.org/ (general)
New email: econdemocracy[at]gmail[dot]com
local physicians to
decide whether to use them. Many apparently chose to use up non
heat-treated material first. "..Some patients are convinced they were
tested secretly..And in some cases, even when those tests showed they
were HIV positive, the patients themselves were not told for several
years.
"When Mr Mackie saw this, he examined his records.
He has discovered that although he was infected in 1984, he was not
told until 1987.
And strangely, the words "Aids study" were clearly written in his
medical notes before he was infected. Mr Mackie is convinced he was
part of scientific attempts to understand the virus behind Aids, but
he was not told."
= = =
Blood safety warnings 'ignored'
By Susan Watts
BBC Newsnight, Science editor
Evidence UK scientists ignored warnings that could have prevented
people with haemophilia being given contamined blood has been seen by
the BBC.
The Newsnight programme has seen documents suggesting experts were
aware of the threat at an early stage, but transfusions were not
stopped.
In the 1970s and 1980s, 4,500 UK haemophilia patients were exposed to
lethal viruses in blood products.
Two thousand have since died of either Hepatitis C or HIV.
Successive governments have resisted attempts to hold a full inquiry.
As a result campaigners have organised a private inquiry which will
hold its first hearing on Wednesday.
It is generally accepted that many people with haemophilia became
infected from supplies of the clotting agent Factor 8 from abroad.
Unbeknown to them at the time, much of the plasma used to make Factor
8 came from donors like prison inmates in the US.
These prisoners were allowed to sell their blood even though there
were questions over their health.
Lack of knowledge
Successive governments have said politicians, civil servants and
doctors simply did not know enough about the dangers of Factor 8
concentrates to stop using them in time.
It has been difficult for those affected to challenge that, as many
official documents have mysteriously disappeared.
The government claimed some were shredded, and it has refused to
release others on grounds of "commercial confidentiality".
Relatives of some of those who have died have managed to get hold of
some of these documents over the course of many years.
They show show many knew a lot more, much earlier than has ever been
admitted.
Key letter
One of the most shocking is a letter from the head of Britain's public
health surveillance centre warning the Department of Health about the
risk of Aids from Factor 8 after Britain's first case in Cardiff.
Why weren't we warned of the risks?
Robert Mackie
It calls for all US imports to be banned.
This was May 1983, before most people with haemophilia in the UK
became infected with HIV.
The letter says: "I have reviewed the literature and come to the
conclusion that all blood products made from blood donated in the USA
after 1978 should be withdrawn from use until the risk of Aids
transmission by these products has been clarified."
Despite this warning, Factor 8 imports continued to be used.
Even when safer heat-treated versions came along, it was left to local
physicians to decide whether to use them.
Many apparently chose to use up non heat-treated material first.
Secret tests
Some people with haemophilia have told us they are convinced, after
studying the paperwork, that they were secretly tested, without their
knowledge or consent.
And in some cases, even when those tests showed they were HIV
positive, the patients themselves were not told for several years.
One of those was Robert Mackie. At the time, he had only mild
haemophilia, and did not even need to be on Factor 8.
He said he would never have taken it if doctors had told him about the
risks.
"They are saying they didn't know about the Aids virus.
"I'm sorry. By June 1983 when the European Commissioners put out a
warning that all haemophiliacs in Europe, including the UK were to be
informed of the risk of Aids. Why weren't we warned of the risks?"
Not told
Mr Mackie discovered by accident that his doctor, Professor
Christopher Ludlam of the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, was doing a lot
more than looking after patients.
In a medical newsletter in 1990, Professor Ludlam described a unique
group of patients in Scotland that had formed the basis of several
years of important research he had published on Aids.
When Mr Mackie saw this, he examined his records.
He has discovered that although he was infected in 1984, he was not
told until 1987.
And strangely, the words "Aids study" were clearly written in his
medical notes before he was infected.
Mr Mackie is convinced he was part of scientific attempts to
understand the virus behind Aids, but he was not told.
Patient group
He has discovered that in April 1983 - before he was infected - Aids
specialists at one of the US's top medical institutions wrote in the
Lancet about how valuable it would be to locate a group of haemophilia
patients in a country not yet affected by Aids.
That was the position that the UK was in at the time, and Professor
Ludlam offered up his patients in response.
We approached Professor Ludlam him but he said he had a duty of
confidentiality to individual patients - even though Mr Mackie himself
wants answers.
He declined to speak because of a potential investigation by the
General Medical Council.
There is intense pressure now on the privately-funded inquiry that
starts tomorrow, and it has got heavyweight backing.
It is being chaired by the former solicitor general Lord Archer of
Sandwell.
Several former health ministers have already said they will appear,
and haemophilia patients hope it may convince the government to
release any documents it is still sitting on.
Government response
The Department of Health said in a statement it had been open and
transparent on the issue in the past.
It said it was reviewing all documents on hepatitis C from 1970-1985,
including some which had previously been considered missing from a
firm of private solicitors.
"Reference to HIV is made in some of the documents, and we plan to
release as many of these documents as possible."
A full report will be broadcast on Newsnight on BBC 2 at 2230 BST on
17 April.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/6562909.stm
Published: 2007/04/17 16:05:25 GMT
= = = =
STILL FEELING LIKE THE MAINSTREAM U.S. CORPORATE MEDIA
IS GIVING A FULL HONEST PICTURE OF WHAT'S GOING ON?
= = = =
= = = =
Sorry, we cannot read/reply to most usenet posts but welcome email
FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://EconomicDemocracy.org/wtc/ (peace)
http://economicdemocracy.org/eco/climate-summary.html (Climate)
And http://EconomicDemocracy.org/ (general)
New email: econdemocracy[at]gmail[dot]com
