Denver area firefighter Peter Mazula, 48, has made a living
extinguishing flames for 29 years. Now, he’s fanning fires
of a different kind.
A decade ago, he learned that he had contracted hepatitis C
while helping an accident victim in 1988. Denied Workers’
Compensation coverage, he went to court and ultimately was
denied again. So, he decided to take his cause to another
branch of government.
Mazula is on the verge of winning Workers’ Compensation
coverage for public safety workers contracting hepatitis C in
the line of duty. Subject to the signature of Colorado Gov.
Bill Owens, SB-06 is set to become Colorado law, due in part
to Mazula’s impassioned testimony before both the Colorado
Senate and the House, and letters written to every member of
the House.
In a surprising move, the Republican-controlled Colorado
House passed the measure unanimously. It also breezed through
the Democratic-controlled Senate with a better than two to one
margin. Upon passage, it will join Workers’ Compensation
hepatitis C laws in nine other states. An additional nine
states have similar legislation pending.
SB-06 is better than other measures, Mazula said. "This
law will be better in two major areas. First, once it is
documented that a public safety worker has been exposed to the
virus, medication can begin immediately. In some other states,
you have to wait until you actually test positive for the
disease. Second, there’s a two-year window to help those who
may already have been affected. As long as it is determined
conclusively that the worker was exposed on the job,
Workers’ Compensation benefits will be in force,"
Mazula said.
But, that doesn’t help Mazula. Now awaiting a liver
transplant to relieve the disease that is ravaging his body,
Mazula is understandably bitter about the toll hepatitis C,
and subsequent denial of Workers’ Compensation benefits, has
taken on his family. His health insurance and fire department
contributions supplement money out of his own pocket to cover
his care. "Workers’ Compensation should have been
there. That’s what it’s supposed to cover," Mazula
added.
"Pete’s efforts not only will provide a
much-deserved safety net for Colorado public safety workers,
but will help build impetus in other states for similar
legislation," said Ann Jesse, executive director of the
Hep C Connection, a national hepatitis C support organization
based in Denver. Jesse, a hepatitis C survivor who has worked
with Mazula to help pass the legislation, added, "He’s
an inspiration to those of us on the front lines fighting this
disease day in and day out."
Mazula’s nightmare began at a gruesome motorcycle
accident in 1988. "There was blood everywhere. I wore
rubber gloves but it was evening, and there was little light.
I sliced my hand open on something, a piece of steel or glass,
I don’t know."
Four years later, he discovered he had hepatitis C. Denied
coverage by Workers’ Compensation for lack of proof, he went
to court and won the first round. Workers’ Compensation
appealed and, ultimately, Mazula lost his court fight.
"The only thing they said about why it was denied is
that when I went to the emergency room back in 1988, the nurse
there told me the accident victim had track marks on his
arms—an obvious warning signal to be on alert for hepatitis
C. The appellate court threw out the case citing this evidence
as ‘hearsay.’ Essentially, I got denied on a
technicality," Mazula noted.
The good news for Mazula is a brighter outlook for other
public safety workers exposed to the disease and his ability
to serve as an educator. "If the accident had happened
today, I would have gotten treatment sooner. Immediate
treatment would have helped. I probably wouldn’t need a
liver transplant. And if I had found back then the kind of
support provided by such organizations as the Hep C
Connection, I could have managed my condition – and its
emotional impact on my family, co-workers and friends – much
more effectively."
Today’s improving treatments would be part of a healthier
equation, Mazula said he believes. "The sooner you get
in, the better your outcome," he added.
Mazula pointed out that he’s been able to teach people in
the fire department about hepatitis C, and, "My testimony
before the Colorado Legislature opened up some eyes as
well."
For now, Mazula has been taken off firefighting calls.
He’s a deputy fire marshal, handling building inspections
and code enforcement.
Unable to tolerate the side effects of full-blown antiviral
treatments, he takes about a quarter-dose of Interferon.
It’s enough to stabilize his condition, but ultimately he
has no doubt that he will need a new liver.
"I have cirrhosis, advanced liver fibrosis, but so far
no signs of liver cancer. I’m on the liver transplant list.
My wife, daughter and I talk about it. It’s hard for
everybody, just waiting and knowing it’s going to
happen."
And waiting is proving very tiring, literally. "I get
fatigued really easily as a result of both the disease and the
medication. I’m just not me most of the time. But the
department’s been great, with guys giving me their comp time
and sick time to help out."
Having both won and lost battles in his hepatitis C fight,
Peter Mazula still faces the greatest battle of all—the one
for his life.
Hepatitis C may affect up to 1 in every 50 Americans,
according to statistics provided by the National Institutes of
Health. Half likely do not even know they have the disease,
which is killing 8,000 to 10,000 people annually in the US;
and is the leading cause of liver disease and liver
transplants. For more information about Hepatitis C Education
Awareness Month or the Hep C Connection, contact:
1-800-522-HEPC (4372); 303-860-0800. For more information
about hepatitis C, contact the Hepatitis Help Line:
1-800-390-1202. Or, visit the Hep C Connection online:
www.hepc-connection.org, info@hepc-connection.org.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Hep C Connection
Ann Jesse, Executive Director
Regina Schuler, Assistant Director
Kathy Jensen, Director, Information and Community Outreach
1-800-522-HEPC (4372)
303-860-0800
