Canadian Government to open talks with forgotten victims of tainted blood scandal

[Guest guest]

Government to open talks with " forgotten victims " of tainted blood scandal

Mon Nov 22,12:16 PM ET

OTTAWA (CP) - The federal government says it will open negotiations on

compensating the forgotten victims of the tainted blood scandal - those

infected with hepatitis C before 1986 or after 1990.

A spokesman for Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh confirmed Monday that the

talks will begin soon. Essentially this follows through on Dosanjh's

statement last month that he would reconsider the issue. The original plan

limited compensation to victims infected from 1986 to 1990, on the grounds

that there was nothing the government could have done before 1986 to stop

the infection, and that after 1990 all possible precautions had been taken.

That much-criticized position has been abandoned.

The question now is how the plan will be changed without compromising the

rights of victims already entitled to payment.

There is some dispute about whether there is a sufficient surplus in the

$1.1-billion fund to cover the original claimants plus those who had been

excluded. Victims say Ottawa must carry the risk if the money should not be

sufficient.

Last month Dosanjh said the rules for access to the fund can be changed only

through negotiations with victims already ruled eligible for compensation,

and with the courts.

Mike McCarthy, a veteran hepatitis C activist said he welcomed the opening

of talks and the key concern is that all victims be treated equally. " A

victim is a victim is a victim, " he said. " I think the people have waited

long enough. "

http://news./news?tmpl=story & u=/cpress/20041122/ca_pr_on_na/hep_c_compe\

nsation_1

[Guest guest]

Government to open talks with " forgotten victims " of tainted blood scandal

Mon Nov 22,12:16 PM ET

OTTAWA (CP) - The federal government says it will open negotiations on

compensating the forgotten victims of the tainted blood scandal - those

infected with hepatitis C before 1986 or after 1990.

A spokesman for Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh confirmed Monday that the

talks will begin soon. Essentially this follows through on Dosanjh's

statement last month that he would reconsider the issue. The original plan

limited compensation to victims infected from 1986 to 1990, on the grounds

that there was nothing the government could have done before 1986 to stop

the infection, and that after 1990 all possible precautions had been taken.

That much-criticized position has been abandoned.

The question now is how the plan will be changed without compromising the

rights of victims already entitled to payment.

There is some dispute about whether there is a sufficient surplus in the

$1.1-billion fund to cover the original claimants plus those who had been

excluded. Victims say Ottawa must carry the risk if the money should not be

sufficient.

Last month Dosanjh said the rules for access to the fund can be changed only

through negotiations with victims already ruled eligible for compensation,

and with the courts.

Mike McCarthy, a veteran hepatitis C activist said he welcomed the opening

of talks and the key concern is that all victims be treated equally. " A

victim is a victim is a victim, " he said. " I think the people have waited

long enough. "

http://news./news?tmpl=story & u=/cpress/20041122/ca_pr_on_na/hep_c_compe\

nsation_1

[Guest guest]

Government to open talks with " forgotten victims " of tainted blood scandal

Mon Nov 22,12:16 PM ET

OTTAWA (CP) - The federal government says it will open negotiations on

compensating the forgotten victims of the tainted blood scandal - those

infected with hepatitis C before 1986 or after 1990.

A spokesman for Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh confirmed Monday that the

talks will begin soon. Essentially this follows through on Dosanjh's

statement last month that he would reconsider the issue. The original plan

limited compensation to victims infected from 1986 to 1990, on the grounds

that there was nothing the government could have done before 1986 to stop

the infection, and that after 1990 all possible precautions had been taken.

That much-criticized position has been abandoned.

The question now is how the plan will be changed without compromising the

rights of victims already entitled to payment.

There is some dispute about whether there is a sufficient surplus in the

$1.1-billion fund to cover the original claimants plus those who had been

excluded. Victims say Ottawa must carry the risk if the money should not be

sufficient.

Last month Dosanjh said the rules for access to the fund can be changed only

through negotiations with victims already ruled eligible for compensation,

and with the courts.

Mike McCarthy, a veteran hepatitis C activist said he welcomed the opening

of talks and the key concern is that all victims be treated equally. " A

victim is a victim is a victim, " he said. " I think the people have waited

long enough. "

http://news./news?tmpl=story & u=/cpress/20041122/ca_pr_on_na/hep_c_compe\

nsation_1

[Guest guest]

Government to open talks with " forgotten victims " of tainted blood scandal

Mon Nov 22,12:16 PM ET

OTTAWA (CP) - The federal government says it will open negotiations on

compensating the forgotten victims of the tainted blood scandal - those

infected with hepatitis C before 1986 or after 1990.

A spokesman for Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh confirmed Monday that the

talks will begin soon. Essentially this follows through on Dosanjh's

statement last month that he would reconsider the issue. The original plan

limited compensation to victims infected from 1986 to 1990, on the grounds

that there was nothing the government could have done before 1986 to stop

the infection, and that after 1990 all possible precautions had been taken.

That much-criticized position has been abandoned.

The question now is how the plan will be changed without compromising the

rights of victims already entitled to payment.

There is some dispute about whether there is a sufficient surplus in the

$1.1-billion fund to cover the original claimants plus those who had been

excluded. Victims say Ottawa must carry the risk if the money should not be

sufficient.

Last month Dosanjh said the rules for access to the fund can be changed only

through negotiations with victims already ruled eligible for compensation,

and with the courts.

Mike McCarthy, a veteran hepatitis C activist said he welcomed the opening

of talks and the key concern is that all victims be treated equally. " A

victim is a victim is a victim, " he said. " I think the people have waited

long enough. "

http://news./news?tmpl=story & u=/cpress/20041122/ca_pr_on_na/hep_c_compe\

nsation_1