Patient says AIDS risks played down

A haemophiliac who contracted HIV through infected blood products has testified to seeing a document in St James's Hospital, Dublin, telling staff to "play down" the dangers of AIDS.

The man, using the pseudonym "Brendan", said he was "very annoyed" by the document which, he said, he came across in the early 1980s while in the hospital for treatment.

He further claimed that when he tested positive for the virus in August 1985 he was told by a consultant, Dr Helena Daly, not to worry and that "it wasn't like it was going to kill me". He said he had been tested for HIV without his knowledge, adding that he was spoken to for just five minutes by way of counselling.

Counsel for Dr Daly, Mr Brian McGovern SC, said his client rejected this claim and would give evidence that she counselled the patient for 30 minutes. This was supported by hospital records, said Mr McGovern.

He said Dr Daly would further testify that she tried to reassure Brendan about the situation. "If she did, it didn't work," Brendan replied.

Asked whether he would have refused the HIV test if it had been offered, Brendan said not if the dangers of AIDS had been explained to him.

A severe haemophilia A sufferer, Brendan said he was treated with cryoprecipitate until about 1982 and factor concentrates thereafter. After testing positive for HIV, he said, he stopped using concentrates for about a year and only took them again "when we were told the treatments were safe".

He subsequently contracted hepatitis C which, he said, he may not have got had he stayed off the treatment.

Two other haemophiliacs in his family, his elder brother and an uncle, have died of AIDS, he said. "Somebody must be held accountable. I am depending on this tribunal to tell me who."

A second haemophiliac, a father of two who contracted hepatitis C, also gave evidence yesterday.

Using the pseudonym "Cecil", he said he had been discriminated against at work because of his condition. The compensation he received was "held against me", he said, adding that knowledge of his situation among his seniors had hindered him from getting promotions.

Cecil, a mild haemophiliac, said that after testing positive in 1992, he was offered no "in depth" advice or counselling.

Evidence will be heard from another 11 haemophiliacs and next-of-kin in the coming days. An estimated 221 haemophiliacs were infected with HIV and/or hepatitis C through infected blood products, 75 of whom have since died.