Class Action Lawsuit?

[fretboard]

Any views or thoughts on this current HepC news.  Is it positive?  I think it’s positive only b/c it brings the fact of HepC to the public eye, sure everyone deserves tx, but how far should we go?   Anyone?


LOS ANGELES – In a recent Associated Press article, about 30,000 California state prison inmates filed a class action lawsuit claiming insufficient health care for those with hepatitis C.
The lead plaintiff, Kevin Jackson, was diagnosed with advanced liver disease due to hepatitis C infection in 2007 and claims he has repeatedly been denied treatment since. The director of health services for California state prisons, Robin Dezember is named as the defendant.
This lawsuit comes after a collapsed settlement of another lawsuit claiming the prisons are overpopulated. The issue is raised again in the current suit, which claims overcrowding violates prisoner rights and leads to poor health care.
July 10, 2008

[moahunter]

I actually had that thought as well -perhaps even something like Larry King, or maybe just local newspapers/tv. There is plenty of historical news / tv media coverage available that could be used (lots of dramatic pictures of police with guns, blood, etc.), I headlined the local tv news for 3 days, and was invited on national news as well (I wasn't really up to it at the time). I was back on the front pages and tv news after infection was announced. On the one hand, I don't really want to do the media junkie thing, and want to get on with my life. But on the other hand, it may be worth it to publicise this disease a bit more. If I am SVR, I may consider this. At the moment, the reason I am lurking on here as I am a bit jumpy waiting for results, and thinking about this a bit more than I have the last few months as a result.

[fretboard]

I just had to ask as nobody seems to know how much blood needs to be transmitted in order for someone to become infected.  In the case of a needle stick it takes very little if it happens to a nurse on duty who, is not drawing blood.  Phlebotimist seem to get accidentally poked quite a bit and the stats are higher for them getting accidentally stuck as opposed to nurses.  I know in your case there was blood everywhere.  I'm sorry that you had to go thru all that trouble first fighting for your life against the intruder, then fighting the HepC virus for your life, or better life.  Something that would open up society's view and possibly sway some of the stigma surrounding HepC would be if Hollywood would make a movie, of a story like yours.  They could have someone like Hilary Swank or even Angelina Jolie play the innocent victim, that would surely make ppl think.  Or even a book written by Anne Rule the top true crime writer in the world as far as I know.  Oh, I know you're not interested in sharing your life story and I'm not sugessting that you write a book or try to sell your story.  All I'm saying is something similar to your tragic situation would be sellable because it's not about a drug user and it's not about any high risk areas which concern drugs, is all.  Like orphanedhawk said "I wish there were a way to make people as aware of HCV as they are of AIDS".  That's all I'm referring to.  Take care and God Bless      

[moahunter]

It was blood to blood contact, probably when we were struggling, or possibly towards the end of hostage taking. My fingers were cut (struggling with knife), neck, and arm, by the knife. I think fingers are the most likely source of infection, as I would have touched my assailant during the assault. My assailant was cut very after throwing his hand through window, I don't think he was cut before that (but I am not sure). We were both bleeding - alot of blood was left over in the house, I don't know how much was mine or his. I was baseline tested negative that evening, so we know this was source of infection. The event only lasted about 15 minutes (police were on the scene almost instantly, and even fired a shot in the house), so I don't know if blood can not be fresh in that span of time. I think fighting is a significant risk of Hep C infection, per my experience.

[fretboard]

"I beleive in kindness and compassion so of course I see this as good.
However, I wish there were more news concerning HCV and that it isn't just "that druggie' disease.  I wish there were a way to make people as aware of HCV as they are of AIDS".

I agree with you totally and maybe somebody will chime in with an idea or something?

Moahunter- I hate to bug you about your terrible road to HepC, but how did it happen that his knife infected you?  Was it from visable blood, dry blood or what?  Do you know?  God Bless

[orphanedhawk]

I looked at your info. and it says your boyfriend was pulled from a clincal trial due to sideeffects and now they say he has fatty liver. He needs to see a good doctor.

Meds are available for free from Roche and Sherring-Plough, the manufacturers of interferon. Do an online seach and you'll find thier free phone number.

Please don't begrudge a prisoner treatment because of your situation. Our taxes should be giving us all good health care instead of being sent overseas. The problem is political.

[orphanedhawk]

I beleive in kindness and compassion so of course I see this as good.

However, I wish there were more news concerning HCV and that it isn't just "that druggie' disease.

I wish there were a way to make people as aware of HCV as they are of AIDS.
I think if the numbers of cases of people with HCV and how fast it is increasing were known more people would be concerned.