Canada: Diane Parsons, who fought for hepatitis C victims, dead at 64

Diane Forsyth, better known under maiden name, Diane Parsons, famed for leading legal fight for those infected with hepatitis C from tainted blood transfusions.

 

HALIFAX — A Halifax woman who led a $1.18 billion class-action settlement for those infected with hepatitis C died Saturday at the age of 64.

Diane Forsyth became known nationally under her maiden name, Diane Parsons, for leading the legal fight for those infected with hepatitis C from blood transfusions.

Her family doctor, Patricia Beresford, said Forsyth, who had a bleeding disorder, became ill after getting a blood transfusion before dental surgery in 1989.

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UK: Man given HIV and hepatitis from blood transfusion finally wins apology - but still fighting for compensation

Mark Ward was being treated for haemophilia as a teenager in the 1980s when he became one of thousands made ill from infected blood supplies 

 A man who was infected with HIV through a blood transfusion in the 1980s is demanding financial compensation after finally getting an apology from the Government.

Mark Ward said his life was destroyed when he tested positive with the virus at age 15 after receiving tainted blood at the Royal Free Hospital in North London.

Athough, at 45, he has outlived doctors' expectations, he grew up with a “death sentence” hanging over him, dependent on a daily dosage of drugs with no idea how long he will live.

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UK: Victims of contaminated NHS blood launch legal case

Three men who contracted hepatitis C from contaminated imported blood have begun a legal case in the UK to challenge the compensation scheme.

They say it is unfair under disability discrimination because other patients in the same scandal have more favourable terms.

A new parliamentary report says around 7,500 patients were infected by imported blood products.

The government said it was considering improvements to the support system.

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