People related to those infected with Hepatitis C through contaminated blood products, and who are affected by this, will be eligible for compensation from the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal, according to new regulations which have been announced by the Department of Health.
Regulations introduced under the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal Act state that a "diagnosed relative" - defined as a parent, brother or sister of a person who has been diagnosed positive for Hepatitis C - who him or herself has the disease, can apply for compensation from the tribunal.
The regulations also apply to a person caring for a Hepatitis C sufferer, where this has caused him or her to incur financial loss, and to the dependants of people who have died from the disease.
It is understood that the regulations were introduced when it became clear there was at least one case where a claim could be made under these circumstances.