Canadian Red Cross apologises for distributing HIV infected blood

doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7504.1349-a

BMJ 2005;330:1349 (11 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7504.1349-a

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Canadian Red Cross apologises for distributing HIV infected blood

Quebec David Spurgeon

The Canadian Red Cross has apologised for what has been termed Canada�s worst public health scandal, which resulted in thousands of patients being infected with HIV and hepatitis C. The Red Cross�s chief executive officer, Pierre Duplessis, made the apology in a videotape shown in court, in which the organisation was fined $C5000 (�2200; $4000; �3300) after it pleaded guilty to a charge of violating the Food and Drug Regulation Act for distributing a contaminated product.

"The Canadian Red Cross society is deeply sorry for the injury and death . . . for the suffering caused to families and loved ones of those who were harmed. We accept responsibility through our plea for having distributed harmful products for those that rely on us for their health," he said.

Mike McCarthy, spokesman for the Canadian Hemophilia Society, was not satisfied with the apology: "How can anyone be satisfied? . . . [Full text of this article]

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