Judge Alison Lindsay, Heard further evidence from Dr Lawlor
The Lindsay Tribunal has heard how a man was infected with Hepatitis C in 1990 from a clotting agent produced by the Blood Transfusion Service, even though a safe product was available. The disclosure was made by Dr Emer Lawlor, Deputy Medical Director of the Blood Transfusion Service, on the seventh and final day of her direct evidence.
Dr Lawlor has carried out a detailed investigation into the infection of haemophiliacs with HIV and Hepatitis from blood clotting agents which were either produced or imported by Pelican House. Today she told the Tribunal that a man with mild haemophilia was treated with a blood product introduced in the beginning of 1990 which was known to eliminate Hepatitis C. However in October of that year, it was disclosed that he was given an old product produced by Pelican House which it is believed infected him.
The Tribunal has yet to hear why an old product was still being used after a safe product already existed. Dr Lawlor said it appeared that he was infected by Batch number 9885 which also infected 2 children whose mother earlier gave testimony to the Tribunal. Using the pseudonym 'Felicity', she told how she only found out that three of her children had been infected with Hepatitis C, 5 years after their diagnosis. The Tribunal has now adjourned until Monday when Dr Lawlor will be cross-examined by the legal team of the Irish Haemophilia Society.
