Infected blood scandal (France)
Encyclopedia
France's Infected blood scandal began in April 1991 when doctor and journalist Anne-Marie Casteret published an article in the weekly magazine the L'Événement du jeudi proving that the Centre National de Transfusion Sanguine knowingly distributed blood products contaminated with HIV
to haemophiliacs in 1984 and 1985.
In 1992, Anne-Marie Casteret published a book Blood scandal (L'affaire du sang) which refuted the argument that nobody was aware in 1985 that the heating of blood made the virus inactive. The book included evidence that as early as 1983, researchers had put forth this assumption.
In 1999, the former socialist Prime Minister Laurent Fabius
, former Social Affairs Minister Georgina Dufoix and former Health Minister Edmond Herve
were charged with "manslaughter". The Court of Justice of Republic
found Edmond Herve
guilty, and acquitted Fabius and Dufoix. Although Herve was found guilty, he received no sentence.
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
to haemophiliacs in 1984 and 1985.
In 1992, Anne-Marie Casteret published a book Blood scandal (L'affaire du sang) which refuted the argument that nobody was aware in 1985 that the heating of blood made the virus inactive. The book included evidence that as early as 1983, researchers had put forth this assumption.
In 1999, the former socialist Prime Minister Laurent Fabius
Laurent Fabius
Laurent Fabius is a French Socialist politician. He served as Prime Minister from 17 July 1984 to 20 March 1986. He was 37 years old when he was appointed and is, so far, the youngest Prime Minister of the Fifth Republic.-Early life:...
, former Social Affairs Minister Georgina Dufoix and former Health Minister Edmond Herve
Edmond Hervé
Edmond Hervé is a French politician, a member of the Socialist Party and French senator since 2008. He was the mayor of Rennes from 1977 to 2008, succeeding Henri Fréville...
were charged with "manslaughter". The Court of Justice of Republic
Court of Cassation (France)
The French Supreme Court of Judicature is France's court of last resort having jurisdiction over all matters triable in the judicial stream but only scope of review to determine a miscarriage of justice or certify a question of law based solely on points of law...
found Edmond Herve
Edmond Hervé
Edmond Hervé is a French politician, a member of the Socialist Party and French senator since 2008. He was the mayor of Rennes from 1977 to 2008, succeeding Henri Fréville...
guilty, and acquitted Fabius and Dufoix. Although Herve was found guilty, he received no sentence.