They played Russian roulette with my life
BLOOD SCANDAL VICTIM CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION
ONE of the youngest survivors of the contaminated blood scandal has called for a criminal investigation to be carried out into the tragedy.
Sean Cavens has spoken out for the first time after the Prime Minister’s announcement of an inquiry into the scandal which claimed at least 2,400 lives.
Sean was just 18 months old when he was infected with hepatitis C during an operation to remove a lump on his leg.
Now 36 years old and living in North Shields, he says the strain of the illness and treatment has cost him two marriages and left him unable to work for long periods of time.
And as survivors and relatives cautiously welcome the arrival a long-awaited public inquiry into the disaster, Sean is demanding “why anyone would play Russian Roulette with my life”.
He is calling for a criminal investigation, and claims the public inquiry will see details emerge of haemophiliacs “being used as guinea pigs, because we were cheaper than chimpanzees”.
“We want to see criminal charges, and we want to receive full compensation for the years of sufferingg this has caused.”
Last week the government announced that there will be an inquiry into how patients with the blood-clotting disorder haemophilia were given blood donated by HIV and hepatitis C sufferers in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The scandal is believed to have contributed to 2,400 people’s death.
Sean was infected with hepatitis C at 18-months-old after going to hospital in Scotland for an operation on his leg.
Blood tests revealed that he suffered from hae- mophilia and, due to a loss of blood during surgery, was given donated blood.
He was not diagnosed with hepatitis C until 1997 after moving to the North East with his family.
He said: “In 1997, I had effectively just started my adult life, my career choices would be limited to office based work, and I would have to declare my condition for every application I made.
“In the early 2000s I became increasingly tired, and just put this down to office based environments, however in 2004 it was apparent it was due to my hepatitis C.
“My world fell apart and wondering how long I had left.”
Sean started a treatment that had a low success rate but was the only option available.
But he said: “I only managed to remain on the treatment for 12 weeks. Flu-like symptoms meant I was unable to leave the bedroom, let alone the house.
“I had to leave my job with a blue chip company. It affected my mental state of mind, I could not take the pain from this treatment and was showing signs of depression.
“My marriage ended, as the strain of this became too much for us both.”
In 2016 Sean went to see a hepatitis C specialist at the Freeman Hospital after c crippling symptoms forced h him to take sickness leave from work again.
He was told he needed to start treatment immediately.
Sean said: “The good news is my treatment was successful and my hepatitis C is now undetected.
“Unfortunately it came at t the cost of a further m marriage.
“The strain, and my e emotional state of mind, c caused problems.
“I’m optimistic about the news of a public inquiry but I don’t know if i it will go far enough.”
“We need closure – the m mental scars will always be there but we need answers.” Sean was just 18 months old when he was infected I kept