Bad blood handling a 'shambles'

December 31, 2005

30 December 2005

By HAYLEY GALE AND NZPA

A Golden Bay woman who narrowly missed out on $44,000 in government

compensation after contracting hepatitis C from a contaminated blood

transfusion is not seeking any money, her companion says.

Amos, who has been fighting to help 88-year-old Pat Hayter, said they

had only discussed her case to highlight the " absolute shambles " they

believe ACC's Medical Misadventure Unit is.

" Pat is not interested in getting more money and neither am I, and we don't

want publicity. "

Mrs Hayter's case should have been straightforward but the way it was

handled was a " bloody disgrace " , Mr Amos said.

Mrs Hayter, who turns 89 on Saturday, was given a blood transfusion during a

cervical cancer operation in January 1990. The blood was contaminated with

hepatitis C.

Ten years later she began to suffer symptoms of the potentially fatal liver

disease, such as extreme fatigue and nausea. Tests confirmed hepatitis C was

active.

In 2000, the Government admitted screening of blood and blood products for

hepatitis C had not been funded until mid-1992 - more than two years after a

test became available. It offered \$44,000 compensation to those who became

infected with hepatitis C between February 1990 and July 1992.

Mrs Hayter's operation fell two weeks outside the eligibility dates.

After a long battle with ACC, finally settled by the Dispute Resolution

Service, she was awarded \$505.20 to cover her medical costs. She received

the minimal amount because she was considered too old for treatment. She was

also awarded a weekly impairment allowance of \$35.20.

Mrs Hayter said she now felt " tired all the time " and was convinced her

symptoms were more than just old age. " I've always been very energetic and

never done anything slowly in my life. Now I have to. "

She forced herself to eat, and took sleeping pills at night.

Mr Amos said it was " ridiculous " Mrs Hayter had not only had to battle ACC

for support, but had missed out on government compensation.

" The whole thing just stinks.

" I fought tooth and nail to try to get ACC to accept her claim but they

appointed a so-called independent adviser who completely ignored the medical

report written by Pat's GP. They will do anything to avoid a payout and

that's what concerns me. "

An ACC spokesman on Friday said privacy concerns prevented him commenting,

but the organisation would be happy to discuss Mrs Hayter's case with her in

the new year.

ACT health spokeswoman Roy said Mrs Hayter's case was " very, very

unfortunate " , and the lesson from the bad blood saga of the 1990s was that

health ministers and the Health Ministry should listen to expert advice and

" not assume they know best " .

The Haemophiliac Foundation has been pushing for government compensation for

victims of contaminated blood products dating back to the late 1980s. In

April, it proposed a compensation deal that the Government is still

considering.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/nelsonmail/0,2106,3526428a6007,00.html

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December 31, 2005