Dentist sues Hancock over father’s virus death
A HEARTBROKEN dentist has launched a lawsuit against Health Secretary Matt Hancock after his father died from coronavirus.
Former Tory parliamentary candidate Dr Minesh Talati is taking action after the death of his dad Navin Talati, 80.
He thinks he inadvertently infected his father and mother Aravinda, 74, along with his pregnant wife, Joanne, after obeying “erroneous” official advice on the Public Health England website. Navin Talati died on April 18 at the Royal London Hospital after battling the deadly disease for 28 days.
Dr Talati claimed he unknowingly caught the virus in late February and probably passed it on when visiting his parents’ home in Goodmayes, east London, on March 7. Two days later he fell ill and it was confirmed he had the virus.
At the time PHE advice said there was little community transmission. But the dentist claimed advisers knew transmission was happening but the PHE website failed to make it clear. If it had, he said, he would never have visited his parents. He said: “I want justice. Someone has to take responsibility for ignoring the signs.”
His lawsuit is believed to be the first by a relative over the death of a loved one from Covid-19 and could pave the way for a flood of claims.
Dr Talati said: “He was not just my father – I’ve lost my best friend.”
The Department of Health and Social Care said it could not comment on ongoing or potential action.
Navin Talati arrived in Britain from India in 1969 and worked as a pharmacist for 35 years. He set up a private dental practice with his son in 2009 and also supported him when he stood as a Conservative Party candidate in Barking, east London, at the 2017 General Election.