The Canadian Red Cross has admitted that is distributed blood to patients throughout the country that was contaminated with the HIV virus and hepatitis C. Canadian officials estimate that more than 3,000 people have died from tainted blood with most of the problems taking place in the 1980s.

Many of the victims were hemophiliacs who were receiving regular blood transfusions. The director of the Canadian Red Cross, Doctor Pierre Duplessis issued a videotaped apology to families who suffered as a result of the actions of the Red Cross.

While the apology was issued, it was not so easily accepted by many of the victims. Mike McCarthy, a spokesman for the Canadian Hemophilia Society told the BBC, 'How can anyone be satisfied? Thousands of people lost their lives. Hundreds and hundreds of people are living with these fatal viruses today. There's no great outcome here for anybody that's gone through the tainted-blood scandal.'

Due to the scandal, a public inquiry into the use of tainted blood was launched in 1997 which was highly critical of the Red Cross. As a result, the organization lost control of the national blood supply system which was then turned over to a government agency.

The Red Cross has now decided to plead guilty in court to distributing contaminated blood. It indicated that it plans to donate $1.5 million (Canadian) to medical research and educational scholarships.