Infected blood scandal (France)
France's Infected blood scandal began in April 1991 when doctor and journalist published an article in the weekly magazine the ' proving that the ' knowingly distributed blood products contaminated with HIV to haemophiliacs in 1984 and 1985.
On January 8, 1985, multi-national health care company Abbott Laboratories sought authorisation to sell equipment needed for blood testing. Response to the demand was delayed as the government was waiting for a rival French test to be released.
In 1992, Anne-Marie Casteret published a book Blood scandal 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 Cour de Justice de la République found Edmond Hervé guilty, and acquitted Fabius and Dufoix. Although Hervé was found guilty, he received no sentence.
