"Women injured by Radiotherapy treatment should be compensated" - Davey Local Lib Dem MP, Edward Davey, has won cross party support in the Commons for his Early Day Motion which calls for the Government to compensate women who were injured by radiotherapy treatment. The early Day motion signed by 127 fellow MPs sets out how many ladies did not give their consent to the treatment nor were others warned of the dangers they faced. The EDM catalogues some of the serious injuries sustained by these ladies and calls for the Government to compensate them in accordance with the proposals made by the Commons Health Committee in 1999. Mr Davey has also asked for Ministers to reconsider the establishment of a no-fault compensation arbitration system. Commenting on his EDM, Edward Davey said, "Women in Kingston & Surbiton and elsewhere have been left permanently injured by botched radiotherapy treatment." "It bad practice that they were not made aware of the dangers they faced prior to receiving radiotherapy and then were not given counselling when these injuries were sustained." "I have supported the campaign led by RAGE (Radiotherapy Action Group) and first raised this with the Government back in 1997. To their shame they have to date failed to properly address the points we have raised." "The women injured should receive compensation as an acknowledgement that some of those administering this treatment made serious mistakes." He added, "From my own constituency casework, it is not uncommon for patients to be left with serious injuries after receiving medical treatment. At present, there is no financial assistance given to help them adjust to their new circumstances. "Other countries such as Australia and New Zealand have introduced a cost effective no fault compensation schemes and Ministers should now consider introducing such a scheme here." |
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