'I injected my children with hepatitis C'

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'I injected my children with hepatitis C' 16 April 2006

By DEIDRE MUSSEN Two of Power's three sons have contracted potentially fatal Hepatitis C from the blood products that were meant to save their lives.

"One of the worst parts was the sense of overwhelming guilt," she says. "I was the one that set up the tourniquet on their little arms and injected this into them."

Power, 49, of Auckland, was diagnosed with haemophilia as an 18-month-old after a cut in her mouth bled so badly she nearly died. It is rare for women to have the disease - it usually affects men.

Despite doctors' assurances that she could not pass it on, two of her sons were born with it.

In 1992, health authorities revealed some blood products were contaminated with hepatitis C.

"I was terribly frightened," said Power. "It was like the bottom dropped out of my world."

New Zealand's 600 haemophiliacs were hardest hit by the bad blood scandal - hepatitis C infected 172, including Power's two sons, Tim, now 27, and , now 22. It was not until 2000 that she discovered she also had it.

Power and her sons have have undergone a gruelling 12-month treatment to try to get rid of it.

She hopes details of the compensation plan will be finalised soon, after dragging on for 14 years.

"Compensation is absolutely vital as a validation of what people have been through - and a humble public apology from our prime minister," said Power.

"She has no idea what it is like to hear your child has been infected by a potentially fatal disease. It could have been stopped, and it was just about saving money."

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