Japan apologises for HIV infected blood products
BMJ 1996; 312 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.312.7029.461 (Published 24 February 1996) Cite this as: BMJ 1996;312:461- Robert Guest
The Japanese health minister, Naoto Kan, apologised last week to people with haemophilia who have become HIV positive through infected blood products. Mr Kan's apology marked the first time that the government has admitted its culpability in failing to introduce heat treatment for blood products. The use of heat treated blood products could have saved 1800 Japanese people with haemophilia from becoming HIV positive.
“Representing the ministry, I offer you heartfelt apologies,” Mr Kan told 200 HIV positive haemophilic people and their families who had been demonstrating for three days outside Tokyo's health ministry. The demonstrators interpreted the minister's …
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