Infected blood scandal: Bereaved families say loved ones who died after being contaminated were being ‘used for research’
Bereaved families who lost loved ones in the contaminated blood scandal say they have seen evidence that proves their relatives were being “used for research” without their knowledge and despite clinicians knowing the risks.
Historical notes in medical records found by campaigners are said to show that some patients being treated for the blood clotting disorder haemophilia in the 1970s and 1980s were given blood plasma treatment which doctors knew might be contaminated and infect them with hepatitis.
Clinicians involved in the treatment have maintained they wanted to study the links between the haemophilia treatment Factor VIII and the risk of infection.
Jason Evans, director of the campaign group Factor 8, believes that instead of stopping treatment, clinicians lobbied to continue trials, even after identifying the association between hepatitis and the treatment.
He has found notes alluding to the research in his own father’s medical records.
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Mr Evans, whose father died in 1993 after being infected with both HIV and hepatitis C during the course of his treatment for haemophilia, said: “It is appalling that hundreds of people with haemophilia across the country were knowingly infected with lethal viruses under the guise of scientific research.
Neil King was co-infected with both HIV and hepatitis C while receiving treatment for haemophilia
“These secret experiments, conducted without consent, show individuals were treated as mere test subjects, not human beings.
“The fact that this could happen on such a scale, over such a long period of time, is almost incomprehensible.”
Documents – obtained through Freedom of Information requests and medical records provided by families – reveal a timeline of the trials, led by a senior medic who worked for the now defunct Public Health Laboratory Service, say campaigners.
Becka Pagliaro from Waterlooville, near Portsmouth, said she was “shocked” to find notes about the trials in her father’s patient notes.
Her father Neil King was co-infected with both HIV and hepatitis C while receiving treatment for haemophilia. He died in 1996 when he was 38 years old.
“When I got his medical records I saw he was part of this research which I know was something that he would not have agreed to, so that was done covertly,” Ms Pagliaro said.
“I was really shocked – I wondered first of all whether I had received someone else’s medical records because I could not believe what I was seeing.”
Janine Jones’ brother Mark Payton died when he was 41 after being co-infected with both hepatitis C and HIV
Janine Jones’ brother Mark Payton died when he was 41 after being co-infected with both hepatitis C and HIV.
“When I saw the research was on my brother’s records I thought: ‘What’s this?’ And after asking a few questions I didn’t get anywhere,” said the 59-year-old from Warwickshire.
“It was only the last few months that it really came to light – they were being used for research.”
Emma Frame, from South Shields, said that her father had never agreed to be part of studies but found multiple references to them in his medical records.
Ms Frame said: “I have all of his records which is where I came across these studies.
“There is no information other than this doctor’s name, a treatment and then a date. With my dad it was recorded several different times.
“It’s absolutely mind-blowing the information that is out there that has been hidden.”
Jeffrey Frame was co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C and died in 1991 when he was just 39.
Ms Frame said that in the mid 1990s she also discovered that the NHS had kept some of her father’s “samples”, which had not been discussed with the family.
“They still had actual physical samples of my dad who had died years previous,” she said.
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Tens of thousands of people were infected with contaminated blood through infected blood products or blood transfusions, largely between the 1970s and 1980s.
People were infected with hepatitis or HIV, and in some cases with both.
An estimated 3,000 people have died as a result, while those who survived have lived with life-long health implications.
Des Collins, senior partner of Collins Solicitors, which represents 1,500 victims and their families, said: “There is now overwhelming evidence that the NHS failed patients on a number of levels in the 70s and 80s and certainly in ways we find shocking and abhorrent.
“We are looking forward to Sir Brian Langstaff’s final Inquiry report in a few weeks’ time, which will lay out the wrongs perpetrated in comprehensive fashion.
“Not only will this reinforce the case for compensating victims and their families, but importantly will shine a light on the lessons to be learned so that mistakes of the past are never repeated again.”
The Infected Blood Inquiry will publish its final report on the scandal on 20 May.
UK drivers are “confused” by the country’s electric car transition, ministers are being warned.
Although most drivers are not hostile towards electric vehicles (EVs), many are confused about what changes are coming and when, according to new research from the AA.
In a survey of more than 14,000 AA members, 7% thought the government was banning the sale of used petrol and diesel cars.
Around a third thought manual EVs exist, despite them all being automatic.
More than one in five said they would never buy an EV.
The government’s plan for increasing the number of electric vehicles being driven in the UK focuses heavily on increasing the supply of the vehicles.
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What you can do to reach net zero
In 2024, at least 22% of new cars and 10% of new vans sold by each manufacturer in the UK had to be zero-emission, which generally means pure electric.
Each year, those percentages will rise, reaching 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans in 2030.
Manufacturers will face fines of £15,000 per vehicle if electric vehicle sales fall short of 28% of total production this year.
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By 2035, all new cars and vans will be required to be fully zero emission, according to the Department for Transport.
Second-hand diesel and petrol cars will still be allowed to be sold after this date, and their fuel will still be available.
There are more EVs – but will people buy them?
In February, 25% of new cars were powered purely by battery and in January, they made up 21% of all new cars registered in the UK.
But despite the growth of electric sales, manufacturers continue to warn that the market will not support the growth required to hit government EV targets, and called for consumer incentives and the extension of tax breaks.
The AA suggested the government’s plan focuses on “supply but does little to encourage demand for EVs”.
It called on ministers to co-ordinate a public awareness campaign alongside the motoring industry which directly targets drivers who doubt the viability of EVs.
“Our message to government is more needs to be done to make EVs accessible for everyone,” said Jakob Pfaudler, AA chief executive.
Which? head of consumer rights Sue Davis said: “When it comes to making sustainable choices such as switching to an electric car, our research shows that people are often held back by high costs, complex choices or uncertainty.
“The government needs to provide the right information on electric vehicles and other sustainable choices so that people have the confidence to switch.”
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “We’re investing over £2.3bn to help industry and consumers make a supported switch to EVs.
“This includes installing a public charge point every 28 minutes, keeping EV incentives in the company car tax regime to 2030, and extending 100% first-year allowances for zero-emission cars for another year.
“Second-hand EVs are also becoming cheaper than ever, with one in three available under £20,000 and 21 brand new models available for less than £30,000.
“We’re seeing growing consumer confidence as a result.”
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