Contaminated blood inquiry resumes hearing evidence

An inquiry into how people were infected with Hepatitis C and HIV from contaminated blood is to resume hearing evidence.

Hundreds of people in Scotland, many of them haemophiliacs who need regular transfusions, were given contaminated blood in the 1970s and 1980s.

The inquiry, which is investigating how the NHS collected, treated and supplied blood, is also hearing testimony from patients and evidence on how they were monitored.

Lord Penrose is chairing the inquiry, which began two years ago at the instigation of the Scottish Government.

The current session, the fourth since the inquiry began taking evidence in March this year, is expected to run until December.

The inquiry opened in March 2009 with a minute's silence for all those who died from infected blood products.

An interim report was published last September after the inquiry team had read 80,000 reports and taken more than 100 witness statements, but did not draw any conclusions.

Lord Penrose has said no individuals or institutions will be held criminally liable as a result of the probe, after health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon indicated in April 2008 that compensation would not form part of the inquiry.

He told the inquiry that "actions and failures" may be identified, but added: "Neither of those matters will involve finding individuals or institutions legally liable to penalties, or for damages or for breach of duty in a legal sense."

Source: news.stv.tv