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  • Title: Controversial issues surrounding the case of HIV infections and AIDS through the use of unheated commercial blood products.
    Author: Morohashi Y.
    Journal: Jpn Hosp; 1997 Jul; 16():1-3. PubMed ID: 10174044.
    Abstract:
    It has been reported in the recent years that not a small number of Japanese patients, including 1,792 hemophiliacs, have contracted HIV infections through the use of commercially available unheated blood products, such as factor VIII or IX concentrates. Many of them subsequently developed AIDS, and died shortly thereafter. It was later found that this tragedy was caused by misconducts and/or negligence of at least several persons responsible for the safety of the aforementioned blood products. Subsequently, a former chief of the Office of Biologics at the Ministry of Health and Welfare was arrested and indicted for the failure to prevent the spread of HIV infections throughout the country. His negligence allegedly killed two patients. No other person in the government, however, was indicted. There are controversies for and against the legal action. It has been questioned whether only one former senior medical officer of the government should and/or can assume full responsibility for the entire spectrum of the fiasco. It has also been claimed that the tragedy was caused by unfortunate combination of various factors in the government, industries, and medical communities, and that indictment of only one former senior medical officer is nothing but oversimplification of this very complicated issue. In order to increase the safety of blood products as well as to prevent the recurrence of the aforementioned tragedy, thorough investigation as well as adequate discussion on this case is highly desirable. Reformation of the current system should be made mandatory.
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