By Kerry Oberheim

The results of a new study may mean money in the bank for Canadian tainted blood victims.

Approximately 20,000 victims of the tainted blood transfusions in Canada may have greater success in pending lawsuits due to a study that can help prove a significant decline in their standard of living. About a year ago, the victims rejected a $1.1 billion settlement offer from the Canadian government.

Mike McCarthy, a hemophiliac who contracted Hepatitis C from a transfusion of infected blood said that this new study will help aid the victims in receiving their desired compensation. "The study will have a profound effect on the lawsuits filed," said McCarthy.

The University of British Columbia conducted the federally funded study, and interviewed more than 400 hemophiliacs over the course of a year. It compared those who contracted the virus to those that did not and found that the infected group was experiencing worse effects than had originally been anticipated.

McCarthy said that the study is useful in expressing the consequences that the victims are experiencing. "This is powerful evidence that people suffer from Hepatitis C and that they can demonstrate a loss of quality of life etc.," said McCarthy.

To obtain monetary compensation in Canada, victims must prove negligence and suffering. With the results of the new study, the group of victims may have this proof and therefore receive their desired settlement. Because of the infections, some victims are claiming loss of income, degradation of quality of life, and the crippling effects of advanced liver disease.

Michael McCarthy said he had to give up his nursing practice as a consequence of receiving tainted blood. "HCV has forced me into ending my nursing practice," said McCarthy. "I'm now disabled with the effects of advanced liver disease."

The lawsuits in Canada continue, and the $1.1 billion offer by the Canadian government will not take affect until the end of the year. However, with the results of this new study, the victims may be able to increase that offer and achieve greater restitution. "Some plaintiffs will now use this study and opt out of any class settlement and pursue their cases in court for a much higher award than what is presently being offered by the government," said McCarthy.