A WOMAN member of the Irish Kidney Association told the tribunal she was so fearful of passing on hepatitis C she had refused to get involved in a relationship and had had a procedure done which would prevent her having children.
Speaking from behind a screen, she said she acquired the virus from blood transfusions and was diagnosed in 1989.
Now 40, she has suffered from kidney problems since childhood and had transplants in 1977, 1987, with two in May 1994. Each involved transfusions. She also underwent dialysis during periods of kidney failure, which involved receiving monthly blood transfusions rob counteract the resultant anaemia.
She had led a relatively normal life after transplants in the past but not any longer. She felt "wrecked" constantly. As she was on drugs to suppress the immune system, and prevent possible rejection of her transplanted kidney, she could not take the Interferon drug used to treat hepatitis.
Her social life was "practically non existent". She was too tired to go out, was not allowed alcohol or to eat food with a high iron content, such as red meat, green vegetables and shellfish.
She was separated and has a son aged 17. Both she and her son were being treated by therapists. She has worked in the Civil Service since 1975, but has not become "established" because of her kidney problems.
This meant she was allowed very limited sick leave. This year she had been out of work for three months due to illness.
As a result of this constant illness she has lost her house and lives in rented accommodation. She has a medical card but finds it hard "to get what you are entitled to without a fight" with the health board.
She feared the condition of her new kidney might be affected by the hepatitis C, and she was "very, very dubious, very, very fearful" of future blood transfusions.
Mr Gerard Hogan (50), the secretary of the Transfusion Positive group which includes patient X among its members, told the tribunal that he was given an infected plasma transfusion after being run over by a car on O'Connell Street in Dublin in June 1979. He was on a motorbike when he was jumped on by "thugs" for not getting out of their way. They beat him up and, in anger, he stood in front of their car. They drove over him. At Jervis Street hospital he was treated for second degree burns. Plasma is used in the treatment of burns.
He suffered chronic fatigue through the 1980s. His social life "closed down". In 1995 hepatitis C was diagnosed.
He has been open about having the virus but he spoke of many people in the group who lived in fear of the stigma they associated with being a carrier.
The secrecy often ended up "poisoning family life". He spoke of the "terror" that they might have passed on the virus to their children. Parents often felt it was better the children should not know.
