A group of victims who were infected with HIV and hepatitis during unethical medical research have expressed outrage over the “ridiculous” compensation amounts offered by the government. The victims, which include young boys with haemophilia, say the sums fall woefully short of properly addressing the immense harm they suffered.
Gary Webster, one of 122 children with haemophilia who attended the Lord Mayor’s Treloar’s College, stated that the compensation offered is “way off the mark.” The victims were subjected to tainted blood products during their time at the college, leading to many contracting life-threatening illnesses.
“The government needs to step up and provide proper, meaningful compensation that reflects the gravity of what we went through,” said Webster. “These were vulnerable children who placed their trust in the medical system, only to be betrayed and left with devastating, lifelong consequences.”
The unethical medical trials occurred in the 1970s and 1980s, when UK health authorities knowingly distributed contaminated blood products to haemophiliacs and other patients. Hundreds were infected with HIV and hepatitis, many of whom have since passed away.
Campaigners argue that the compensation amounts, which range from £20,000 to £100,000, are woefully inadequate given the immense physical, emotional, and financial toll the victims have endured. They are calling for a far more substantial compensation package that takes into account the full scale of the harm caused.
“These victims have suffered immensely, both in terms of their health and the impact on their lives,” said patient advocate Sarah Thompson. “Anything less than substantial, life-changing compensation is a grave injustice. The government has a moral obligation to make this right.”
The scandal has been described as one of the worst treatment disasters in the history of the National Health Service. An official inquiry is currently underway, with victims hopeful that it will lead to greater accountability and meaningful restitution.
“We’ve waited far too long for justice,” said Webster. “It’s time the government showed some real compassion and provided the level of compensation these victims deserve.”
