§ Mr. HavardTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is taking to protect doctors in the UK from being prosecuted for prescribing contaminated blood. [86266]
§ Ms BlearsThe Consumer Protection Act 1987 was enacted by Parliament in compliance with the United Kingdom's obligations under the EU Product Liability Directive 85/374/EEC. The Act imposes strict liability on manufacturers. All blood and blood products issued to hospitals by the National Blood Service (NBS), are classed as falling within this Act. The NBS is therefore liable, not the doctor, should a patient develop a proven transfusion transmitted infection or any other adverse outcome that can be related to the quality of the blood or component transfused. Neither is the doctor liable if he prescribes any other licensed blood product not supplied by the NBS provided it is licensed for use in the UK.