Medical negligence victim vows to fight on for compensation
A haemophiliac man from Norwich, who was infected with hepatitis C via bad blood he received from the NHS, has said he will continue his battle for a compensation claim for as long as it takes.
The man, aged 57, was one of thousands of haemophiliacs who became infected from an anti-blood clotting agent used in hospitals from 1960 to the early 1980s.
Patients were given blood which came from the US, despite it being taken from prisoners who were more likely to have blood-borne diseases.
At least 2,000 haemophiliacs have died since the medical negligence and it has been described as a “horrific human tragedy”, but victims and their families have spent more than 20 years trying to get answers and adequate personal injury compensation.
In February 2009, a government inquiry also criticised the NHS and ministers for not compensating the victims of the blunders.
However, the man said that the government seems to have pushed the compensation back because of the election. Despite this, he has said he will continue his campaign for justice.
"We will go on and on until it's resolved. If we give up now, it would have been pointless starting the fight 25 years ago," he stated.
Haemophilia Society chairman Liz Rizzuto also urged Britons to support the victims' legal battle.
Updated on 28/04/2010