Document 0720
 DOCN  M94A0720
 TI    Contamination of blood by HIV in France: facts, controversies and impact
       on society.
 DT    9412
 AU    Brunet JB; European Centre for the Epidemiology Monitoring of AIDS,;
       Saint-Maurice, France.
 SO    Annu Conf Australas Soc HIV Med. 1993 Oct 28-30;5:19 (abstract no.
       TPI-3). Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ASHM5/94348935
 AB    Screening of blood donors has been mandatory in France since 1st August
       1985. Virus inactivated Factor VIII concentrates were progressively
       introduced for treatment of haemophiliacs and by 1st October 1985 all
       non-heated products had been replaced. By 30th June 1993, 1223 AIDS
       cases linked to blood transfusions and 323 cases among haemophiliacs had
       been reported. These figures are disproportionally higher than those
       observed in comparable European countries for the former group and
       similar or lower for the latter. Trials ongoing since 1988 have led to
       prison sentences for the director of the National Centre for Blood
       Transfusion and one medical expert. Administrative courts have
       considered the State responsible for all HIV infection acquired through
       transfusion and a 1992 law has created a specific compensation mechanism
       for an estimated total cost of 2 billion $US. Court decisions on similar
       cases concerning hepatitis transmission are now pending. A global
       legislation for the development of a national insurance system for
       medical hazards is being considered by the French parliament.
 DE    Blood Transfusion/*LEGISLATION & JURISPRUD  *Blood-Borne Pathogens
       Comparative Study  Cross-Cultural Comparison  Cross-Sectional Studies
       France/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Human  HIV Infections/EPIDEMIOLOGY/PREVENTION &
       CONTROL/*TRANSMISSION  Incidence  MEETING ABSTRACT

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