A bloody and awful saga
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Among the many health misadventures of recent years, this stands out as the worst of all. Hard to believe that the awful saga is now more than 30 years old. It has robbed more than 40 women of their lives and has overshadowed the lives of hundreds of others.
About 1,000 women were infected with hepatitis C in maternity hospitals. They had been given a blood product to prevent them having blue babies. Those infected were socially rejected and, in many cases, kept their illness secret. Victims suffered financial anxiety too, worrying that their infection would affect their job security.
The long, controversial public campaign for investigation and compensation brought its own stresses.
The Rainbow government of the time paid the price of initially resisting attempts to set up a compensation tribunal. To its shame, the State fought the compensation claim of Brigid McCole, even as she lay on her deathbed.
Today, more than €800m has been paid out and, despite an inquiry finding the then Blood Transfusion Service Board was negligent, no individual is to be held to account.
Long after the present recession has passed, long after our hospitals have been, hopefully, given a clean bill of health, the hepatitis C tribunal of compensation will still be sitting, seeking closure on one of the most tragic and shameful episodes in the life of the country.
