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Court bid for blood transfusion Hepatitis inquiry

09 May 2005 17:58
People dying after contracting Hepatitis C through blood transfusions are going to court to try and force the authorities to have an inquiry into their case.

The families of people who have already died are also joining the campaign. They want to know exactly how their loved ones were infected and where the contaminated blood products came from.



It is two years since Roseleen Kennedy and her sister lost their mum but their still looking for answers to the questions surrounding her death. Seventy-two-year-old Eileen O'Hara died after contracting Hepatitis C when she had a blood transfusion during a heart operation in the 1990s. Her liver was so badly damaged by the virus that doctors at first suspected the tee totaler was an alcoholic. Now her family want to know why she had to spend her final years in such pain and if her death could've been prevented.

Roseleen Kennedy said: "You feel that at least somebody could tell what happened. It makes you feel unimportant when people can't tell you how it happened when it happened and where the blood came from."

The O'Hara family certainly are not alone - its thought that around 500 Scots contracted the virus from contaminated blood between the early 70s and the early 90s. One hundred and fifty families are now being represented by a lawyer who is taking an action against the Lord Advocate and the health minister. He says it is a disgrace that they have not backed an inquiry into the whole situation.

Frank Maguire said: "They should be falling over themselves to give an explanation but they're resisting it."

The inquiry is too late for Eileen O'Hara but her family want to know if lessons have been learned from her death and to make sure that more is done to help those who are now dying from the virus

__________________
Mr. Jan B. Wade
Blood Management Consultant
Enhance Outcomes - Control Cost
For Information Call - 360 296-1807
Email