- I have recently been diagnosed with a Hepatitis C infection
- Eoin P. Campbell, LL.B., Solicitor
- Editor in Chief
Question:
I have recently been diagnosed with a Hepatitis C infection which I believe I contracted through a contaminated blood transfusion many years ago. Can I still claim compensation after all this time?
Answer:
Hepatitis C is just one of many infections that can be transmitted through contaminated blood, and is an infection which can also be acquired from contaminated organ transplants or contaminated Anti-D Immunoglobulin. The Courts and Civil Liability Act 2004 allows you two years from the date you knew you were infected to make a contaminated blood compensation claim, but because of the different ways in which the infections transmitted by contaminated blood affect different people, your case will have to be dealt with through the courts rather than through the Injuries Board Ireland.
Claiming compensation for contaminated blood injury can be a long process, as infections such as Hepatitis C may take many years to manifest and records of blood transfusions prior to 1991 are often missing or incomplete. Furthermore, because the degree of physical and psychological trauma is unique to each victim, every contaminated blood compensation claim is unique.
Therefore, it is in your best interests to discuss any blood contamination claim with a solicitor as soon as you are diagnosed with a blood infection and establish that your claim will be made within the two year limit. Thereafter, a solicitor will help you through the processes required to make a blood contamination compensation claim and represent you in litigation in order to negotiate an appropriate settlement.