newly diagnosed

[creature]

My 37 year old brother was recently diagnosed with Hep C. He has been on interferon and ribavirin for about four weeks. He is having horrible muscle cramps in his legs, anorexia and fatigue, which isn't that bad from what I know. Get this, he went to donate blood and they told him he couldn't because he was on the registry for hep C. He's like "what?". Come to find out he had back surgery 8 years prior where he had to donate some of his own blood for the surgery. That is when they found out he had hep C. Eight years ago!!! Nobody bothered to notify him. How does that happen? He has contacted a lawyer, but they told him theres nothing he can do because it has to be within 2 years. He told them that he didn't know two years ago, so what could he have done. He spoke to several other lawyers and they told him the same thing. This doesn't seem right to me. He put his wife and children in jeoperdy (that spelling doesn't look right;) )for the last 8 years, not to mention he could have started treatment then. He is so depressed and worse now with the treatment. I feel really bad for him, but I think he's brave for taking the treatment because it doesn't sound pleasant. His livers are a little high, but not too bad considering. They never did do a liver biopsy which I found strange. He is seeing an infectious disease specialist so I hope he knows what hes doing. He was a heavy drinker until the last 5 years when he cleaned up, so thank God. Not sure how he contracted it. He did use IV drugs and has tattoos. Don't get the wrong impression - he is a good person who went down a hard road and brought himself back - so I'm proud of him. Anyone with any insight into all this, please post.

Creature

[gitterbug]

I am very sorry your brother, his family, and for you. Seems like he needs to have some counselling, and maybe enlarge his search for a competent attorney who would realize the difference between being informed about a serious health condition and just being pushed along the system. The two year thing should apply from when he found out, not when the information was obtained but not given to him. Now, that is just my opinion, but it makes sense to me. Has he contacted the medical board to lodge a complaint against this physician for not giving his this information? I think I would see the CEO of the facility too. Contacted the news? It will cause some negative feedback, but people have to be assured when they are found to have conditions like this, the physician will inform them. I wish your brother the best.

[jewelsg627]

Get this, he went to donate blood and they told him he couldn't because he was on the registry for hep C. He's like "what?". Come to find out he had back surgery 8 years prior where he had to donate some of his own blood for the surgery. That is when they found out he had hep C. He is seeing an infectious disease specialist so I hope he knows what hes doing.

Had something similar happen to a friend of mine. She had surgery when she was a baby (circa 1981) and they ended up transfusing her with blood that was infected with Hep C. When she was 16 she registered to give blood. A few days later they sent her a packet in the mail with a brochure that sad "Living with Hep C". She dropped the packet and just cried. Really tragic. but, back in the 80's, I don't think they were screening blood for Hep C yet....

I think he might actually be better off seeing a hepatologist. I worked in a hep clinic at a major university hospital and we had TONS of referrals for pts with Hep C. Check with his insurance.

[TazziRN, RN]

I think your brother needs to find another attorney, because I believe the statute of limitations on many things is length of time from the time of discovery. He can even check with the court.