A senior official of the Blood Transfusion Service has been accused of writing an inaccurate account of a meeting on blood product safety. Ted Keyes, former Chief Executive Officer, denied a charge that he recorded an inaccurate note because of concerns of liability. The Lindsay Tribunal heard that the meeting was held in July 1988 to decide on the temperature blood products should be heated to eliminate viruses.
John Trainor SC for the Irish Haemophilia Society said the minute showed two BTS employees already knew what standard should apply. He claimed that Mr Keyes recorded that the decision was taken on the basis of information from an international meeting in Paris. Mr Trainor charged that this was recorded in such a fashion because of concerns of liability if it was noted in any other way.
Mr Keyes strongly denied the claim and said he took exception to such a charge being made. He said it was not his intention to mislead the Tribunal. John Findlay, SC for the Tribunal, said that there was no evidence to suggest that anyone became infected from the old heat treatment protocol. Michael McGrath, SC for the Blood Transfusion Service, suggested that Mr Trainor was making accusations without any proof.
