Vaccine injury compensation fund justice not easy

[Guest guest]

Sorry I could not find the link

In one case, government representatives

> argued that $150 a year was

> > > too much to spend on wheelchair

> maintenance. They have haggled over

> > > how much to allow for replacement shoes and

> braces for people with

> > > polio. Another time, they recommended

> rubber sheets for the bed of an

> > > incontinent person because they were

> cheaper, although less

> > > comfortable, than disposables costing $135

> a year.

> > >

> > > And cases dragging beyond five years have

> become increasingly common.

> > >

> > > His mother, Lori Barton, filed the claim in

> November 1991. The case

> > > dragged on for years. Barton told friends

> and family that she

> > > suspected the government was waiting for

> to die — noting that

> > > it would be cheaper for the program to pay

> the death benefit of

> > > $250,000 than to buy an annuity to cover

> lifetime care.

> > >

> > > eventually did die of a seizure,

> nearly six years into the

> > > case, but the government continued to

> fight. Finally in May 2000

> > >

> > >

> > > And she still finds it " unfathomable " that

> the government fought her

> > > claim for so long, Zuhlke said. " My little

> girl hadn't done anything

> > > wrong. "

> > >

> > > There, opposing lawyers hired expert

> witnesses to prove that 's

> > > injuries weren't vaccine-related. When that

> failed, they balked at

> > > paying for costly medicines her doctors

> said she badly needed.

> > >

> > > The Zuhlkes finally won — but it took more

> than 10 years.

> > >

> > > " I thought it was very cruel, " Zuhlke said.

> " People were very aware

> > > of the fact that my family was suffering. "

> >

> >

> >

> >

>