Japan's Lower House Passes Sensitive Hepatitis Bill

[Guest guest]

CDC

JAPAN: " Japan's Lower House Passes Sensitive Hepatitis Bill "

Agence France Presse (01.08.08)

Today in Japan, the Diet's House of Representatives unanimously approved a

compromise bill to compensate all patients who acquired hepatitis C from tainted

fibrinogen. The blood product was used in Japanese hospitals to stop bleeding -

mostly during surgery or after childbirth - until 1988, though the United States

had warned of its danger in 1977.

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who took office in September, faced withering

public opinion last month when he initially refused to provide blanket

compensation to those infected. He tried holding to a previous court-mediated

settlement, which would admit government responsibility and provide assistance

to a narrower group of those infected. Responding to heavy media coverage of the

victims' accounts, Fukuda abruptly reversed his stance and said the ruling

coalition would draft legislation covering all those infected.

Under the bill, which could be finalized this week in the opposition-controlled

upper house, the government and pharmaceutical firms would establish a

compensation fund of about ¥20 billion (US $183 million). Each victim would

receive compensation ranging from ¥12 million to ¥40 million (US

$109,700-$365,770). The bill's preamble apologizes and acknowledges government

responsibility for " causing huge harm to the victims of the infection. "

Michiko Yamaguchi, a leader of the plaintiffs who have filed suits against the

government and drug makers since 2002, said, " We will keep a close watch until a

system is established for the patients to receive treatment with a sense of

security, and until the truth behind the contamination is brought to light. "

_________________________________________________________________

Share life as it happens with the new Windows Live.

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[Guest guest]

CDC

JAPAN: " Japan's Lower House Passes Sensitive Hepatitis Bill "

Agence France Presse (01.08.08)

Today in Japan, the Diet's House of Representatives unanimously approved a

compromise bill to compensate all patients who acquired hepatitis C from tainted

fibrinogen. The blood product was used in Japanese hospitals to stop bleeding -

mostly during surgery or after childbirth - until 1988, though the United States

had warned of its danger in 1977.

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who took office in September, faced withering

public opinion last month when he initially refused to provide blanket

compensation to those infected. He tried holding to a previous court-mediated

settlement, which would admit government responsibility and provide assistance

to a narrower group of those infected. Responding to heavy media coverage of the

victims' accounts, Fukuda abruptly reversed his stance and said the ruling

coalition would draft legislation covering all those infected.

Under the bill, which could be finalized this week in the opposition-controlled

upper house, the government and pharmaceutical firms would establish a

compensation fund of about ¥20 billion (US $183 million). Each victim would

receive compensation ranging from ¥12 million to ¥40 million (US

$109,700-$365,770). The bill's preamble apologizes and acknowledges government

responsibility for " causing huge harm to the victims of the infection. "

Michiko Yamaguchi, a leader of the plaintiffs who have filed suits against the

government and drug makers since 2002, said, " We will keep a close watch until a

system is established for the patients to receive treatment with a sense of

security, and until the truth behind the contamination is brought to light. "

_________________________________________________________________

Share life as it happens with the new Windows Live.

http://www.windowslive.com/share.html?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_Wave2_sharelife_012008

[Guest guest]

CDC

JAPAN: " Japan's Lower House Passes Sensitive Hepatitis Bill "

Agence France Presse (01.08.08)

Today in Japan, the Diet's House of Representatives unanimously approved a

compromise bill to compensate all patients who acquired hepatitis C from tainted

fibrinogen. The blood product was used in Japanese hospitals to stop bleeding -

mostly during surgery or after childbirth - until 1988, though the United States

had warned of its danger in 1977.

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who took office in September, faced withering

public opinion last month when he initially refused to provide blanket

compensation to those infected. He tried holding to a previous court-mediated

settlement, which would admit government responsibility and provide assistance

to a narrower group of those infected. Responding to heavy media coverage of the

victims' accounts, Fukuda abruptly reversed his stance and said the ruling

coalition would draft legislation covering all those infected.

Under the bill, which could be finalized this week in the opposition-controlled

upper house, the government and pharmaceutical firms would establish a

compensation fund of about ¥20 billion (US $183 million). Each victim would

receive compensation ranging from ¥12 million to ¥40 million (US

$109,700-$365,770). The bill's preamble apologizes and acknowledges government

responsibility for " causing huge harm to the victims of the infection. "

Michiko Yamaguchi, a leader of the plaintiffs who have filed suits against the

government and drug makers since 2002, said, " We will keep a close watch until a

system is established for the patients to receive treatment with a sense of

security, and until the truth behind the contamination is brought to light. "

_________________________________________________________________

Share life as it happens with the new Windows Live.

http://www.windowslive.com/share.html?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_Wave2_sharelife_012008

[Guest guest]

CDC

JAPAN: " Japan's Lower House Passes Sensitive Hepatitis Bill "

Agence France Presse (01.08.08)

Today in Japan, the Diet's House of Representatives unanimously approved a

compromise bill to compensate all patients who acquired hepatitis C from tainted

fibrinogen. The blood product was used in Japanese hospitals to stop bleeding -

mostly during surgery or after childbirth - until 1988, though the United States

had warned of its danger in 1977.

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who took office in September, faced withering

public opinion last month when he initially refused to provide blanket

compensation to those infected. He tried holding to a previous court-mediated

settlement, which would admit government responsibility and provide assistance

to a narrower group of those infected. Responding to heavy media coverage of the

victims' accounts, Fukuda abruptly reversed his stance and said the ruling

coalition would draft legislation covering all those infected.

Under the bill, which could be finalized this week in the opposition-controlled

upper house, the government and pharmaceutical firms would establish a

compensation fund of about ¥20 billion (US $183 million). Each victim would

receive compensation ranging from ¥12 million to ¥40 million (US

$109,700-$365,770). The bill's preamble apologizes and acknowledges government

responsibility for " causing huge harm to the victims of the infection. "

Michiko Yamaguchi, a leader of the plaintiffs who have filed suits against the

government and drug makers since 2002, said, " We will keep a close watch until a

system is established for the patients to receive treatment with a sense of

security, and until the truth behind the contamination is brought to light. "

_________________________________________________________________

Share life as it happens with the new Windows Live.

http://www.windowslive.com/share.html?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_Wave2_sharelife_012008