WE shouldn't be too quick to criticise those making life or death decisions on the battlefield following the news today that British soldiers may have been exposed to contaminated blood.

We are told the US military failed to follow its own rigorous testing procedures, leaving 18 soldiers seriously injured in Iraq or Afghanistan at possible risk after they were given emergency transfusions.

We must not lose sight of the fact that surgeons had to make life or death decisions and it would difficult to lay blame at their door, even if they knew the blood had not been screened properly.

With the chances of any risk of infection being extremely low as the blood given to the British soldiers had all tested negative for hepatitis and HIV we're certain the troops and their families are just relieved they are still alive thanks to the efforts of the surgeons.

It's right that both the British and the US military have now reviewed their procedures to ensure this does not happen again.

But let's not forget just how tough it is for everyone serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and the battlefield conditions they endure will always leave scope for human error.