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TOXIC LEGACY -- British Royal Legion says
veterans
uffering with Gulf War illnesses are still
fighting
for answers and for compensation.
Story here...
http://society.guardian.co.uk/
health/comment/0,,2074824,00.html
Story below:
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Toxic legacy
Veterans suffering with Gulf war illnesses are still fighting for
answers and for compensation, write Frances Hoy and Lisa Wise
Of the 53,500 UK troops deployed to the Gulf war in 1990-91, there are
now close to 7,000 who have received a payment or are in receipt of an
ongoing war pension for illness or injury relating either to their
preparation to deploy or active service.
The Gulf war has been labelled the most toxic war in history. Troops
were subjected to a multiple immunisation programme of up to 14
vaccinations prior to deployment, followed by exposures to
organophosphates (and other pesticides), nerve agents to counteract the
effects of chemical warfare, depleted uranium, environmental hazards,
chemical weapons such as sarin and cyclosarin, and smoke from burning
oil wells.
Completed research in the UK has now discounted most of these as the
single cause of Gulf war illnesses. However, work is currently under way
in the US and elsewhere investigating the possible "cocktail effect" of
these multiple exposures.
Research has confirmed, however, that Gulf war veterans are more than
twice as likely to report symptoms of ill health, and to be suffering
more severely from them, than their military contemporaries of
equivalent age, gender, rank and branch of service. Symptoms largely
fall into four categories: musculoskeletal, neurological, respiratory
and psychological.
Sadly, even though 16 years have passed, the veterans and the scientific
community are still no clearer on the causes of their illnesses, some of
which have proved terminal. Epidemiological studies used to investigate
causal links with illness have been hampered by the lack of accurate
data, including service records and medical and/or vaccination records.
Health surveillance was not carried out during deployment, or
immediately post deployment. Additionally, this lack of clarity on
exposures has resulted in lengthy delays for veterans seeking pensions
and compensation for their conditions.
Still more controversy surrounds administrative problems with the
programme of medical countermeasures in the lead-up to and during
deployment of British troops to Kuwait and Iraq. In 2003, the government
spokesperson for defence admitted in the House of Lords that these
included breaches of the policy of voluntary informed consent on
immunisations, the use of unlicensed and unproven vaccinations, and
ignoring medical advice from the Department of Health on the potential
adverse reactions of administering the vaccine cocktail.
Tomorrow, the Royal British Legion will host a conference in Birmingham
for veterans of the Gulf war. The conference will aim to update veterans
- many of whom are in broken health - on the progress that has been made
since the release of the findings of an independent public inquiry into
Gulf war illnesses in 2004, and offer input on future policy
initiatives, including demands for a one-off payment of £10,000 to those
affected.
The day's programme will include a speech from the minister for
veterans, Derek Twigg - the first time in 10 years that a veterans
minister has spoken to Gulf veterans about their illnesses - as well as
a presentation from Dr Harcourt Concannon on how the military's pensions
appeal tribunal has effectively forced the Ministry of Defence to accept
the umbrella term "Gulf war syndrome" on selected hard-fought cases.
The government has continually stated that the time is not right for a
public inquiry into the causes of Gulf war illnesses and the handling of
the surrounding issues; a policy which has bred a feeling of rejection
among veterans. The reasons given for this have been that scientific and
medical investigations are ongoing.
However, many scientific and medical experts have now concluded that
further clinical or causal investigations will probably not produce any
further useful outcomes. The legion has renewed its call on the
government to make a definitive statement regarding a public inquiry at
tomorrow's conference.
The government has recognised the call from Gulf veterans for further
research into rehabilitation and health and social care models that can
improve the quality of life and general health of veterans and their
families. Identifying useful models needs to become a greater priority.
In 2004, the Rt Hon Lord Lloyd of Berwick made a recommendation for an
ex gratia payment for Gulf war veterans as part of the findings of his
independent public inquiry into Gulf war illnesses. Wednesday's
conference will seek support for the immediate offer of the ex gratia
payment - based on the government's failure to protect veterans, the
treatment they have received and the resulting anxiety.
The £10,000 payment is in line with other UK ex gratia payment schemes.
It should be awarded to all Gulf war veterans who have received a
gratuity or war disablement pension, Gulf war widow(er)s in receipt of a
widow's pension, and children of Gulf war veterans who are in receipt of
a war orphan's pension.
· Frances Hoy is head of PR and campaigns and Lisa Wise is head of
public policy for the Royal British Legion.
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Larry Scott --
