Posted: 22-Aug-2005 << BACK
August 22nd 2005
THE HEPATITIS C TRUST SHOCKED AT IGNORANCE OF HEP C SLANDER IN THE FILM BEWITCHED
Today The Hepatitis C Trust spoke out regarding its annoyance at the insensitivity of the Nicole Kidman film, Bewitched, in its inappropriate reference to hepatitis C. The film was released in the UK this weekend and features a woman bewitched into discouraging romantic advances from the character played by Michael Caine by saying she has hepatitis C.
Charles Gore, Chief Executive of the leading UK patient group, The Hepatitis C Trust, said: Its outrageous that a major Hollywood film should trivialize hepatitis C in this way. This is a potentially fatal disease affecting up to 200 million people worldwide and hundreds of thousands in the UK. The remark is unnecessary for the script and its tasteless, suggesting that people with hepatitis C are somehow lepers and only serving further to reinforce the stigma that blights the lives of those with this illness. Its also extraordinarily ignorant. Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus, not a sexually transmitted disease. This film highlights just how little awareness there is about such an enormously widespread disease and how essential it is that we change that. October 1st 2005 is going to be the first International Hepatitis C Awareness Day and its clearly badly needed.
In the UK an estimated 500,000 people have the virus, making hepatitis C 10 times more prevalent than HIV. People can be infected for more than 20 years before serious health concerns even make them aware that they are infected. As many as 9 out of 10 people are not aware that they have the virus and for this reason hepatitis C is sometimes referred to as the time bomb virus.
Hepatitis C is contracted from the blood of someone who has the virus. This means that anyone who had a blood transfusion prior to 1991, when blood began to be screened, or has shared equipment for injecting drugs or snorting cocaine, or has had a tattoo, ear or body piercing, undergone acupuncture or invasive medical or dental treatment abroad in less than ideally hygienic circumstances or even shared household articles like razors or toothbrushes could be at risk. The implications of hepatitis C are that up to 50% of those infected with the virus will develop severe liver disease, and without a costly liver transplant many of these will die.
There is currently no vaccine against the virus, so prevention of new infections is particularly important. Treatment is available and it is estimated that about 60% of people living with the virus can be cured, as long as an early diagnosis is made.
About the Hepatitis C Trust
The Hepatitis C Trust is the only national UK charity devoted to hepatitis C. It provides support, information and representation for people with hepatitis C. The Hepatitis C Trust is committed to raising awareness and lowering the stigma of the disease amongst the general population.
For more information on all aspects of hepatitis C view our website www.hepCuk.info
or contact our helpline where trained staff and hepatitis C+ volunteers provide support and information to those worried about or affected by hepatitis C on 0870 200 1 200.
Patrons: Mr Robbie Williams, Miss Emilia Fox, The Marchioness of Bute, Ms Sandie Shaw
Trustees: Dr Avril Crollick, Ms Kate Docherty, Dr Noreena Hertz, Mr Tom Logan, The Lord Mancroft,
Dr Iain Murray-Lyon, Mr Nicolas Myers, The Hon Mary Parkinson, Mr Charles Walsh
Charity Registration Number: 1104279
