BBC apologises over HIV drugs doc

The BBC has admitted errors and apologised for a controversial documentary about testing HIV drugs, it has emerged.

BBC Two's Guinea Pig Kids originally aired in 2004 and claimed to "question the ethics of testing anti-HIV drugs" on "vulnerable and poor children at a New York care home".

It suggested children were given "futile" and "dangerous" drugs and taken from their families after resisting the medicine.

New York's Centre for HIV Law and Policy complained about the documentary. It claimed it was facually incorrect and labelled it HIV "denialist" propaganda.

The centre has now revealed it received an adjudication, upholding some complaints, and an apology at the end of July. But campaigners want the results made public.

Fraser Steel, head of editorial complaints, wrote to the centre: "I hope you will accept my apologies, on behalf of the BBC, for the deficiencies we found in the programme and the associated website material."

In another e-mail editorial complaints director Philip Abrams acknowledged the complaint had raised "very serious issues" and had "given rise to discussions at the highest editorial level".

The documentary was made by independent film-maker Jamie Doran. Those involved at the corporation were said to be Karen O'Connor, now head of current affairs, as executive producer, and This World series producer Sandy Smith, now Panorama editor.

A BBC spokesman confirmed an adjudication had been made but said nothing would be published until news executives had met and decided what action to take in response.