Victims of bad blood tell of pain and anguish

The "pain and suffering" of people infected with hepatitis C and HIV from contaminated blood has been revealed in testimonies published by the inquiry investigating their cases.

The Penrose inquiry, set up by the Scottish Government two years ago, is gathering evidence on how hundreds of people in Scotland, such as haemophilia patients, were given contaminated blood in the 1970s and 1980s.

Victims and their families gave evidence earlier this year during closed sessions at a series of hearings in Edinburgh.

Thompsons Solicitors, the lawyers appointed by inquiry chairman Lord Penrose to represent all transfusion and haemophiliac victims, said the transcripts illustrated the "incredible pain and suffering" caused by the scandal and called for "no stone to be left unturned" to get "real answers" for the victims.

One person, a haemophiliac who was treated at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, now has severe sight problems because of his HIV infection. He said: "My life has been ruined by this scandal. To say I'm outraged is putting it lightly. I was tested on for years without my or my parents' consent. I was used and abused by the doctors involved.

"They knew I was HIV positive and had hepatitis C but kept quiet. They've taken my life away from me. When they finally told me I was open-mouthed in disbelief. My world had just been smashed to pieces. I wanted to get out of the hospital as soon as possible. My life has been ruined. It's a mess."

Another victim, a haemophiliac who was infected with HIV during treatment in Glasgow, found out he was infected at the age of 19, years after doctors knew about it.

He said: "It is important people are made aware of the impact on the lives of haemophiliacs and their families from having received contaminated treatment and the huge uncertainty this has caused. It is also important the medical profession recognises the mistakes of the past and that lessons are learned for future generations."