Seanad debates

Wednesday, 13 November 2002

Lindsay Tribunal Report: Motion.

 

I salute the bravery of those who had the courage to give evidence. I deplore the fact that, because of the stigma surrounding this tragic disease of HIV, so many of them felt they had to give evidence under a pseudonym. I hope the Minister will continue efforts to remove the stigma from what is, after all, a disease. The one level of criticism I have of some elements within the haemophilia community is that in the early days when they were negotiating for money and help – and now I think they get it very easily after an initial reluctance – there was a tendency among some of their supporters to say that they had acquired this infection blamelessly. Morality should be kept separate from the treatment of illness, first because this is the humane approach and, second, because it is the safest. If shame is used to drive disease underground a timebomb will have been created.

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