Airlines have case to answer on DVT

12.00.00am GMT Tue 5th Nov 2002

A West Midlands Euro-MP and Deep Vein Thrombosis sufferer is wishing well the 56 DVT sufferers who have brought forward their case against the airlines in the High Court today.

The Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne said:

"The medical condition Deep Vein Thrombosis has been known for many years, yet in their mad rush to squeeze as many people into aeroplanes as possible, the airlines had been happy to keep people in the dark. Fortunately, many have now started taking the health risks seriously, but if a company is incapable of demonstrating that it has taken all reasonable precautions, then the case that it is guilty of negligence speaks for itself."

Liz Lynne has suffered three deep vein thromboses (blood clots in the lower leg) in recent years - two after relatively short flights. In the European Parliament she has called for more EU funds to spend on researching the condition and for airlines to include advice on avoiding DVT on flights.

"One Heathrow passenger a month has been dying from the condition and it is time the airlines took all practical steps to ensure such risks are minimised," she said.