Tainted blood survey: Cardiff activist calls "thick"

A man who contracted HIV and hepatitis C was described as a "moaning" and "fat" by a supportive trust while he was fighting for compensation, according to a survey.

Haydn Lewis died in 2010 after developing liver cancer following hepatitis C and was also infected with HIV.

A public inquiry into the tainted blood scandal has been posted in e-mails from the Macfarlane Trust – created by the British government to support hemophiliacs.

In an email, Peter Harvey of the trust called Mr. Lewis "mediocre".

In e-mails to Martin Stevens, also from the trust, Mr. Harvey described a tactic used to keep the extended family allowances as a way to deliberately upset the "Lewis contingent".

He also described the family as "a lot of moans" and said, "It is irritating to see such heavy people making such poor suggestions."

The Macfarlane Trust was established in 1988 before being wound up two years ago and transferred to other organizations.

In his testimony at the Cardiff inquiry, his wife Gaynor Lewis also stated that Haydn was determined to uncover the truth about the scandal and was "encouraged" by the death of seven-year-old Colin Smith, who died as a result of AIDS. 1990 after being infected as a baby.

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The investigation revealed that Haydn of Cardiff had been informed of his diagnosis in February 1985, although he was tested positive for the disease in July 1984 without knowing it.

His wife contracted HIV despite the couple using a contraceptive method after Haydn's diagnosis in 1985.

Ms. Lewis said, "This could have been the case when the test was done in 1984. There was a window of opportunity.

"He [her diagnosis] it devastated. I saw a change in him from that day. He felt guilty and awful.

"I was visibly so devastated, I had young children, we just tried to do our best."

Like the other victims, the couple was stigmatized because of his condition and was attacked.

"We went dancing in a barn and we were coming back," said Ms. Lewis.

"But someone hit Haydn." There was an ambulance, he had a broken nose and he was hospitalized.

"My sister went to the police and said that she probably would not say anything because of HIV, then she contacted us and said," You should not pursue this because the attackers could probably sue you. in court for not telling them you had HIV & # 39 ;.

The couple's son, Steven, described his father as "determined to justice with determination" in a statement.

This is the last day of hearings in Cardiff, as part of an investigation into the tainted blood scandal in the United Kingdom.

At least 300 victims in Wales have been diagnosed with chronic or life-threatening diseases such as hepatitis or HIV after receiving contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 1980s.

Ms. Lewis thanked the investigation for helping to "make dreams come true".