'Tainted Blood'-Hep C group rejects $1.1-billion federal offer
CP via Bourque
1/26/99 CP
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Hep C group rejects $1.1-billion federal offer
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OTTAWA (CP) -- The Hepatitis C Society of Canada has given thumbs down to a $1.1-billion deal to compensate people infected with the liver disease from 1986 to 1990.
The association has found the offer to be "unacceptable on a number of counts" says a statement prepared by its president, Jeremy Beaty, to be released at a news conference today.
It remains up to individual victims to decide whether or not to accept the federal-provincial-territorial offer, but the critical assessment, prepared after extensive discussion within the group, suggests the deal may be in trouble.
Among concerns raised in the assessment:
-- There are no special provisions for children. Since child victims have many years ahead of them, it is felt they are entitled to additional compensation and protection beyond that provided for adults.
-- Victims face the risk there may not be enough money for them when they get ill in the future because governments won't guarantee funding of the plan.
-- Hepatitis C victims are getting much less compensation than people infected with AIDS through tainted blood, even though the long-term consequences of the two diseases are said to be similar.
-- The initial payment of $10,000 is insufficient to cover psycho-social and economic impacts of the disease "which start as soon as the victim is labelled as being infected."
Health ministers agreed in principle last spring to provide $1.1 billion for hepatitis C compensation, and assigned a group of class-action lawyers to decide how the money should be allocated.
After months of work behind closed doors, the lawyers announced the main elements of a framework compensation plan in December, but the full text of the agreement is not expected to be released before April.
Leslie Gibbenhuck, a B.C. resident whose son is infected with hepatitis C, said Beaty's assessment accurately reflects the views of the victims she has spoken to.
"It's long overdue," she said in an interview. "I think they (Beaty and his colleagues) have taken the time out to listen to people. They've addressed every single issue.
"I think it's important that people understand the whole thing before they agree to it."
In his statement, Beaty says the assessment is being provided to members so they can "make their personal and individual decisions on whether to accept the negotiated settlement or take alternative legal action."
He urged lawyers to seek input from victims in developing an improved plan. Many victims have complained in recent months they had no say in the negotiations.
He said the Hepatitis C Society will seek standing in court to represent its victims when the final settlement is presented for court approval.
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