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Canadians sue over hepatitis C infection
David Spurgeon, QuebecA group of people who became infected with the hepatitis C virus through Canada's national blood supply have launched a class action lawsuit against the Canadian Red Cross Society, the federal government, and eight provinces.
The United States began screening blood for the hepatitis C virus in 1986, but Canada did not start until 1990 because the test was considered to be too expensive–around $C10m (£4m, $7m) a year. The class action lawsuit is estimated to cost around $C3.5bn.
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The action calls for financial compensation similar to that granted to 1000 Canadians who became infected with HIV after blood transfusions and who have received about $C30 000 a year since 1989. So far, no compensation has been offered to the estimated 12 000 people who have developed hepatitis C.
However, two days before the announcement of the class action suit the new federal health minister, Allan Rock, indicated that he was willing to consider the issue. Last year his Liberal party turned down a similar request for compensation.
Timothy McClemont, executive director of the Hepatitis C Society of Canada, said: "Everyone would prefer achieving compensation through the government rather than the courts."
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