Red Cross faces $5,000 fine in blood case CTV.ca News Staff
The Canadian Red Cross Society pleaded guilty today to distributing blood tainted with HIV and hepatitis C, and publicly apologized to victims, bringing some in the courtroom to tears.
The Red Cross admitted to violating the Food and Drug Regulation Act, by distributing tainted blood between 1983 and 1990.
As a result of the guilty plea and public apology, the defence and Crown lawyers agreed the Red Cross should pay a $5,000 fine and make a $1.5-million payment to the University of Ottawa for research and scholarships for family members of those affected.
The judge accepted the lawyers' submissions, but won't formally deliver his sentence until June 30.
Regardless of how the judge rules, what many victims had been waiting for was an apology from the national blood agency -- and today they got to hear that via a video statement played in the Hamilton court.
"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,'' said secretary general Dr. Pierre Duplessis.
"We accept responsibility through our plea for having distributed harmful products for those that rely on us for their health.''
The charity was charged in 2002 after thousands became infected with HIV and hepatitis C during the 1980s and early '90s from tainted-blood transfusions.
Crown Attorney John Ayre said the sentence was reasonable given that the Red Cross is no longer involved in the collection and distribution of blood. That is now the responsibility of the Canadian Blood Services.
"The apology is as complete as one could contemplate. The Red Cross has now said it is sorry and responsible for its actions,'' Ayre said.
Dr. Roger Perrault, who was the Red Cross's director of blood transfusion until 1986, is still facing three counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm and seven counts of common nuisance by endangering the public.
Perrault's lawyers told a Toronto court earlier this year that their client is too ill to face charges. They say he has an undisclosed, long-standing heart condition.
As many as 20,000 Canadians contracted hepatitis C and more than 1,000 became infected with HIV after receiving tainted blood products in what became of the worst public health disasters in Canadian history.
At last count in 1997, about 3,000 of those infected had died, but recent estimates are not available.
http://sympaticomsn.ctv.ca/servlet/A...hub=topstories
You are currently accessing this Site as a guest. Please login or register by clicking Here
Linear Mode
