Behind the Bastards: Part Two – How Tainted Human Blood Became A Major U.S. Export

Release Date: March 27, 2025
Hosts: Robert Evans and Ben Bolin
Produced by: Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts

Overview

In the second installment of "Behind the Bastards," hosts Robert Evans and Ben Bolin delve into the harrowing tale of how tainted human blood from U.S. prisons became a significant export, leading to a global health catastrophe. This episode meticulously unpacks the systemic corruption, political entanglements, and ethical breaches that facilitated the distribution of contaminated plasma, causing widespread infection among hemophiliacs in the United Kingdom and Canada.

1. The HMA Plasma Program and Initial Scandal

The episode begins by introducing Health Management Associates Incorporated (HMA), the company responsible for managing blood donations within Arkansas prisons in the early 1980s. In 1983, HMA sold 38 units of tainted blood plasma from inmates known to be hepatitis-positive. Although 38 pints might seem negligible in isolation, these were mixed with tens of thousands of other donations, contaminating a vast number of plasma-derived medicines.

Notable Quote:
Robert Evans [04:46]: "They're, they're founded by Janine Murder. You know, she's a great cat food scientist of the New Hampshire murders."

Note: This quote, while humorous, underscores the deceptive nature of HMA's innocuous name masking nefarious activities.

2. Reinstatement and Continued Misconduct

Despite the initial scandal, HMA was reinstated after individuals with ties to the administration secured positions within both the prison board and HMA. This reinstatement allowed HMA to resume its plasma donation program with minimal oversight, exacerbating the contamination issue.

Notable Quote:
Robert Evans [04:55]: "They're just killing people. You really want to just invest in a company called MurderCo? Because MurderCo probably just produces like cat food or something."

This stark commentary highlights the malicious intent behind HMA's operations.

3. Global Impact: Canada and the UK

The contaminated plasma from Arkansas prisons found its way into the medical systems of Canada and the United Kingdom. In Canada alone, an estimated 42,000 individuals were infected with hepatitis C, and thousands more contracted HIV, resulting in approximately 7,000 deaths. Similarly, in the UK, the British hemophiliac community suffered devastating losses, with around 4,670 individuals infected with hepatitis C and 1,243 with HIV, culminating in about 2,000 deaths.

Notable Quote:
Robert Evans [30:58]: "Yes, easily preventable deaths too. This is medicine that they need to live."

This emphasizes the tragic and avoidable nature of the crisis.

4. Legal and Regulatory Responses

In 1985, HMA settled with the FDA over the blood recall, agreeing to a liability share of approximately $250,000. Despite these settlements, HMA continued its operations until 1986 when its insurance company withdrew support due to reckless practices, forcing the closure of the plasma program. Subsequent investigations by the Institute for Law and Policy Planning from Berkeley, California, sought to scrutinize HMA's behavior rather than the plasma program itself, often shifting blame solely onto the company.

Notable Quote:
Robert Evans [12:07]: "HMA originally may have diverted the Department of Correction payments to support acquiring plasma centers or to other purposes that may well warrant further inquiry."

This indicates potential financial misconduct beyond blood contamination.

5. Systemic Corruption and Political Connections

A significant portion of the scandal revolves around the involvement of political figures, notably Bill Clinton, who was then the Governor of Arkansas. Leonard Dunn, a banker close to Clinton, played a pivotal role in negotiating favorable terms for HMA and its successor, Pine Bluff Biological Products (PBBP). These arrangements facilitated continued exploitation of inmate labor and the plasma donation program, ensuring substantial profits with minimal oversight.

Notable Quote:
Robert Evans [40:08]: "He doesn't have qualifications to monitor a blood plasma donation program. That's like saying, you know, this guy's a great helicopter pilot. Let's put him in charge of making sure all the hearts we put in people are working."

This criticism underscores the misplaced trust in politically connected individuals lacking relevant expertise.

6. Impact on Canada and the UK

The fallout from HMA and PBBP's contaminated plasma exports had catastrophic effects internationally. In Canada, the Canadian Red Cross had to cease blood collection operations due to the crisis. The UK faced what was termed the "worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS," with thousands of hemophiliacs suffering from hepatitis C and HIV infections.

Notable Quote:
Robert Evans [33:09]: "Most of the victims believe the blood and clotting factors they were using came from British donors. The possibility that the blood might have been imported did not even occur to them."

This highlights the lack of transparency and awareness among the victims regarding the source of their blood products.

7. Legal and Media Aftermath

Efforts to sue the responsible parties were largely hindered by cross-border legal challenges. Additionally, media coverage and documentaries, such as Kelly Duda's "Factor 8: The Arkansas Prison Blood Scandal," faced distribution obstacles, allegedly due to political pressures aimed at silencing the narrative.

Notable Quote:
Robert Evans [57:35]: "Find the documentary Factor 8 so I can watch it. That's what I'm gonna plug. Somebody's gotta have it out there."

This plea underscores the struggle to bring suppressed truths to light.

8. Conclusion: Systemic Issues and Personal Accountability

Evans and Bolin conclude by emphasizing that the tragedy was not solely the result of individual malfeasance but stemmed from entrenched systemic corruption within the blood plasma industry and political institutions. They argue that while individuals like Bill Clinton bear significant responsibility, the broader issue lies in the intersection of profit motives and lack of stringent oversight, which permitted such unethical practices to proliferate.

Notable Quote:
Ben Bolin [56:21]: "it is tempting again to look at the headline to put a face on a problem right now. I'm mad insert individual here. The real problems are systemic and have always been and shall always be so."

This encapsulates the overarching theme of systemic failure over individual blame.

Final Thoughts

"Behind the Bastards: How Tainted Human Blood Became A Major U.S. Export" serves as a chilling reminder of how systemic corruption and ethical breaches can lead to widespread human suffering. The episode meticulously traces the trajectory from HMA's initial misconduct to the global health disasters that ensued, highlighting the complex interplay between profit-driven motives and political influence. Through detailed analysis and poignant quotations, Evans and Bolin shed light on a dark chapter of medical and political history, urging listeners to recognize and address the systemic issues that allow such tragedies to occur.

For more detailed accounts and nuanced discussions, listen to the full episode on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts.