Subscribe to Search results

Some evidence has held that doctors during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s were part of a medical regime centred around a more paternalistic paradigm. However, alternate evidence offered to the inquiry have held that regardless of the time period, there are certain fundamental ethical norms and principles which lie at the heart of the medical profession including autonomy, beneficence and non-maleficence.

Published on:

Evidence presented to the inquiry held that while most doctors took the view that not discussing the risks associated with blood products with patients would not result in deterring patients from using the various treatments anyway. However, Professors Farsides and Kerridge on the medical experts panel to the inquiry disagreed, stating until one has disclosed all the risks to a patient, then one cannot assume patients are making a fully informed decision.

Published on:

Speakers from the Medical Ethics Experts Panel held that it was ethically wrong not to explain the risks of treatment to patients.

Published on:

Speakers from the Medical Ethics Experts Panel held that it was ethically wrong not to promptly provide patients with the outcomes of their diagnosis and test results.

Published on:

The Medical Ethics Expert Panel noted in its report to the Inquiry that there are exceptions where a patient is incapable of taking such a decision, whether because the patient lacks capacity, or they need emergency treatment and to seek active consent is unrealistic.

Published on:

The Medical Ethics Expert Panel told the Inquiry that consent must be informed: in other words, the patient must have been given sufficient information about the risks and benefits of treatment, alternative treatments and the right to refuse treatment.

Published on:

Giving evidence as part of the Medical Ethics Expert Panel, Professor Farsides stated that "we won't learn the proper facts of the matter if people are being defensive or hiding things or even not taking it seriously enough to dig down and find the important information", with Professor Kerridge adding that "these same principles apply in areas of politics."

Published on:

Dr Jones remained of the view that cryoprecipitate had made a significant difference to the advantage of patients.

Published on:

The 1970s saw a gradual shift from the use of cryoprecipitate, largely in hospitals.

Published on:

Professor Peter Collins told the Inquiry that HIV results were filed separately from medical notes contrary to what one would have expected.

Published on:

SIBSS became operational.

Published on:

The Scottish Government faced challenges when seeking changes in levels of assistance from the AHOs, as any change required all four nations to agree and to identify additional funding.

Published on:

SIBSS was established, to be administered by the Common Services Agency for the Scottish Health Service, and began operations on 1 April 2017.

Published on:

The AHO's system was intended to make ex-gratia payments, but were not intended to be compensatory.

Published on:

Samantha Baker (the team leader with overall responsibility for infected blood within the Scottish Government's Health Protection Division) told the Inquiry that parity had not been a prominent part of the regular four nations' meetings until 2019.

Published on:

Martin Bell, director of NHS Scotland, was against introducing additional bureaucracy which might potentially slow anything down.

Published on:

Samantha Baker agreed in her oral evidence to the Inquiry that by mid 2020 there had not been much progress over the previous year: "the UK Government hadn't been able to secure any additional funding so that there was a lack of progress as a result of that and things weren't progressing as quickly as we'd expected" [regarding the payment schemes].

Published on:

By the end of 2020 there had been no significant progress or developments regarding the achievement of parity.

Published on:

In Scotland, in March 2021, there was a move towards greater parity.

Published on:

In Scotland, Martin Bell of the SIBSS confirmed that SIBSS would assist applicants in making a claim by speaking to the GP or health board to access records to support an applicant's claim.

Published on: