Awards in UK cheer NZ hepatitis C victims

By MARTIN JOHNSTON and NZPA

"Bad-blood" awards of more than $179,000 to British hepatitis C victims strengthen New Zealand claims for increased compensation, says a support group.

The British High Court has awarded compensation estimated at £6 million to £7 million ($20.44 million to $23.85 million) to people who caught the potentially fatal liver disease through infected blood transfusions.

The compensation was awarded in six test cases in a group action of 114 people infected between 1988 and 1991, after which the National Health Service began blood screening.

Though the payments will vary depending on the effect of the virus on the 114 people, the average payment would amount to between $179,300 and $209,200.

Mike Mapperson, vice-president of the Haemophilia Foundation of New Zealand, said yesterday that the British ruling "strengthens our case substantially."

About 700 New Zealanders have been infected by donated blood or blood products. At least 25 have died.

The Government has offered $40,000 plus $4000 costs to people infected from February 1990 (the date when it acknowledges mandatory screening should have been implemented) to July 1992. Those infected earlier have not received the offer.

A lawyer representing claimants, Roger Chapman, said the British judgment provided moral help, but its "legal usefulness here is probably fairly limited."

The court had stated that Britain's blood authority should have introduced screening by 1988, the date of the consumer legislation under which the case was brought, and implied it should have been earlier.

Mr Chapman said that about 160 claimants had filed for compensation in the High Court at Wellington, but some had accepted the Government offer and withdrawn, At least 50 more were waiting to file.

The police are considering what action to take over 45 criminal complaints lodged against two former health ministers, Prime Minister Helen Clark and former National MP Simon Upton, by people who contracted hepatitis C from infected blood.

In reply to written questions in Parliament, Police Minister George Hawkins said letters had passed between the Police Commissioner's office and the foundation, which coordinated the complaints. The police were waiting for further information.