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Hep C Veterans
Any Veterans out there who have won any type of case against the government on contracting Hep C from airjet guns or oral surgery? I am Vietnam era vet (of course did not see combat as women were not allowed at that time). I am putting in a claim against the government and would like to know if others have done the same. Any takers?
Normally, I get annoyed when old posts are pulled up but I'm glad to see this one.
Thanks for posting. Its quite likely I got hep C from an infected Vietnam Vet.
Thanks for posting. Its quite likely I got hep C from an infected Vietnam Vet.
Personally, I wouldn't take part in any lawsuit. The Army was pretty good to me and remember that nobody even knew what Hep-C was back then.
I have been working with Patricia Lupole at HCVets.com. for three years now. We have had tremendous success getting Vets service connected for HCV and it is harder than PTSD. We have had some wins on jetguns recently but most have been in combination with transfusions, tattoos, STDs in service and medics exposed to blood risks. The embedded site on HCVets.com has moved recently to AskNod.org. due to space issues. They have everything needed to win and a great support staff. Very professional and all the latest legal cites to help with the minefield of service connection.
I was at Lackland AFB May-July 1980 any ladies out there that was there that has hep c, lets talk...
Yes, they're trying to pin it on you. Hopefully they can come up with those records. Also wonder if you could contact others HCV positive who were standing in line by you and hit with the same jetgun. Might be a good idea to talk to the lawyer who won the settlement referenced by CoWriter,
Good luck!
Kittyface
Good luck!
Kittyface
Have been trying to get VA to take resposibility since March, Sure i got hepC with air inoculations in 1975, had hospital stay in AIT after basic and they couldnt figure out why I sick. Just got a letter saying they couldn't find records when I was in army hospital. Now they are asking if I have any tattoos , piercings or ever practiced risky sex. Maybe they trying to find a way out?
Somebody at the Veteran's forum (HCVets.com) won a big settlement recently. I forgot his name, but if you go to the site and talk to Tricia, she'll be able to give you the info. They also have lots of info on jetguns that can help you prove your case.
Hi Skydog,
I talked to several attorneys, did some research and will tell you what I know. I contracted HCV from blood transfusion in 1982 and discovered that for a period of about 20 years the Red Cross/FDA knew that 10% of blood recipients contracted non-A, non- B hepatitis as it was called back then. Yet they didn't divulge the info before or after the transfusions. In fact, I came across some minutes of meetings between the Red Cross and FDA in 1979 discussing whether to inform people. They declined. Also, they could have added additional measures to screen out bad blood but the test was $2.39 and I suppose they didn't think it was worth the cost and God forbid, it would have reduced the pool of donors.
Around the same time the same thing was happening In Canada which resulted in a class action lawsuit against Canadian Red Cross and gov in the 90's. Canada govt. apologized to the people and gave each a settlement of around $80,000.
Unfortunately, it's different here in the US. I know of one case that was tried in Louisiana holding a hospital liable for transfusion of HCV. The case was lost due to the technicality of statute of limitations which is extremely unfair because how are you supposed to know if/when you received the virus? In my case I received the transfusion in 1982 and went to doctors for 25 years complaining of illness before it was diagnosed in 2004.
I suppose if you have a blood transfusion you should have various tests to see if you contracted anything so you can litigate before the statute of limitations expires.
Your case may be different since it's the VA but I doubt it. Good luck and keep us updated.
Kittyface
I talked to several attorneys, did some research and will tell you what I know. I contracted HCV from blood transfusion in 1982 and discovered that for a period of about 20 years the Red Cross/FDA knew that 10% of blood recipients contracted non-A, non- B hepatitis as it was called back then. Yet they didn't divulge the info before or after the transfusions. In fact, I came across some minutes of meetings between the Red Cross and FDA in 1979 discussing whether to inform people. They declined. Also, they could have added additional measures to screen out bad blood but the test was $2.39 and I suppose they didn't think it was worth the cost and God forbid, it would have reduced the pool of donors.
Around the same time the same thing was happening In Canada which resulted in a class action lawsuit against Canadian Red Cross and gov in the 90's. Canada govt. apologized to the people and gave each a settlement of around $80,000.
Unfortunately, it's different here in the US. I know of one case that was tried in Louisiana holding a hospital liable for transfusion of HCV. The case was lost due to the technicality of statute of limitations which is extremely unfair because how are you supposed to know if/when you received the virus? In my case I received the transfusion in 1982 and went to doctors for 25 years complaining of illness before it was diagnosed in 2004.
I suppose if you have a blood transfusion you should have various tests to see if you contracted anything so you can litigate before the statute of limitations expires.
Your case may be different since it's the VA but I doubt it. Good luck and keep us updated.
Kittyface
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