The Gift of Death: Confronting Canada's Tainted Blood Tragedy

by Andre Picard

Few Canadians know of "Mr. L," an auto worker in Ontario who gave "the gift of life" in 1984 as part of a company blood donor drive. Many more will remember Kenneth Pittman, a 53-year-old heart patient, who died after being infected with AIDS -- from Mr. L's blood. They will also remember Mr. Pittman's wife, Rochelle, who contracted the virus from her husband because his doctor decided not to inform them of Mr. Pittman's fatal disease. This tragic story is a microcosm of Canada's blood scandal. For over a decade, bureaucratic dithering, profits-over-protection responses, a paternalistic medical establishment and uninformed victims combined to create the worst health-care disaster in Canadian history. More than 1,200 people have contracted AIDS from tainted blood -- and the dying continues. Andr, Picard has produced the definitive analysis of this complex tragedy. All of the players are here -- public health officials who refused to take the "homosexual plague" seriously; the Red Cross, which worried about bad publicity and the bottom line; the too-little-too-late government that offered inadequate compensation for victims; and the arrogant medical establishment which sometimes took years to inform HIV patients of their condition; and most of all, the victims, who are paying for this betrayal with their lives. The Gift of Death is a call for a serious re-evaluation of an outdated blood system to ensure that a similar tragedy never occurs.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

278 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1995

Reviews

[Olivia Conway · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was capitalism all along! kind of a dry read but it feels really wrong to wish that a book about government negligence leading to death and suffering were more exciting. very thorough account of a catastrophe i hadn’t heard of

[Ashley Cartwright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad book obviously, I would have like to hear more of the personal stories and it was slightly technical

But great writing

[David Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. For those who are interested in learning the history of the Tainted Blood Scandal in Canada, this is your encyclopedia. Picard does an excellent job in weaving the victim's personal stories with fact. Very detailed descriptions, but that is what makes this a good read. I would highly recommend this book, as the Tainted Blood Tragedy is a black mark on the Healthcare System in this country that cannot be forgotten.