View Full Version : Soldiers lives worth less than a thumb
Peerucks
8th Aug 2007, 15:10
Read in a recent article:
"A typist who strained her thumb while working for the RAF is to be paid almost half a million pounds - more than 8 times what a soldier could expect for losing his leg.
The unnamed civilian developed a repetative strain injury while inputting data. She sued the MoD and has been awarded £484,000.
A soldier on losing a lg is eligable for compensation of £57,000."
Surely this money should have been put towards military charities for wounded soldiers and their families.
This is pretty sickening in my eyes.
Runaway Gun
8th Aug 2007, 15:13
Shocking. Time for me to enter more data on JPA. I could strain two thumbs just trying to resign !!
lampeterexile
8th Aug 2007, 15:16
Are you really suprised in this day and age? This country has gone so far downhill.
splitbrain
8th Aug 2007, 16:20
Payouts of lottery win proportions for comparatively piffling injuries :mad::mad::mad::mad:
First_In_Last_Out
8th Aug 2007, 16:48
That's ridiculous, the compensation culture has to change before its too late and we all drown in health and safety legislation and risk assessment paperwork.
coolblackcat
8th Aug 2007, 16:52
Are you really suprised in this day and age? This country has gone so far downhill.
Every country has. These sort of issues happen everywhere, sadly.
Could be worse though. A couple of centries ago, the government wouldn't of payed anything towards injured soldiers.
grey_not_green
8th Aug 2007, 17:15
looks like I picked the wrong day to give up swearing...
:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:
Looks like I picked the wrong day to quit huffing glue..at least if I had a Pritt stick up each nostril I'd know I was hallucinating.
Biggus
9th Aug 2007, 07:11
I am not defending this payout, but before everyone gets too excited check ALL the facts......
My understanding is the payout of £484,000 (or whatever it was) included repayment of legal costs, as the person in question had to take legal proceedings against the RAF/MOD to get compensation. Legal costs can be very expensive!!
Now I'm sure the basic point, relative payments for minor injuries vs payments for wounded soldiers is totally valid - and I agree with it 110%. People just need to be careful what figures they quote!
Zithro
9th Aug 2007, 11:10
Just a thought, but I don't think that any gripes should not be aimed at this clerk, but should in fact be aimed at a society that doesn't understand or value the the sacrifices of the guys at Headley, or the bereaved families. The same society that will accept the payments that so called celebs get for allowing their wedding pics to be published, or the money paid out to Big Brother contestants.....rant rant rant!
I don't know much about repetitive strain injuries, but I imagine it actually exists as an injury and that it hurts. The clerk made a complaint, as any of us probably would have done and hey-presto gets a big wad of money - so what!
A guy loses a leg, arm, or even worse his mind on Ops and gets bugger-all - now that is worth making a fuss about!
dkaarma
9th Aug 2007, 11:17
just wait a sec...
who uses their thumbs to type?
Zithro
9th Aug 2007, 11:24
Me....I've mastered 2 fingers and one thumb so far!
All on the one hand, or.....? And what are you doing with the other ?
philrigger
9th Aug 2007, 11:49
...just wait a sec...
who uses their thumbs to type?
I do.
Anybody who has learnt to touch type uses their thumbs to operate the space bar.
'We knew how to whinge but we kept it in the NAAFI bar.'
TorqueOfTheDevil
9th Aug 2007, 11:51
Could be worse though. A couple of centries ago, the government wouldn't of payed anything towards injured soldiers.
True, but then a feeble typist (or 19th Century equivalent!) wouldn't have got anything either. That's almost better, because this 21st Century case simply demonstrates the sad chasm between the treatment that servicemen and civvies get. If the facts of the case are accurate (and I acknowledge the words of caution from Biggus and Zithro), I find it disgusting.
unconcerned
9th Aug 2007, 21:41
Doesn't the real problem lie with the definition of 'serviceman'?
Years ago it was recognised that persons who took the Queen's Shilling waived their rights to civil compensation. These days in the current political arena it seems that everybody should be treated equally and, if we're not going to pay serving personnel the real going rate, they should be able to claim fair and equitable compensation.