US government to pay $6.7 billion to butterfly disease patients, Iranian court orders

TEHRAN:

A court in Iran has ruled that the US government must pay $6.7 billion in compensation to “butterfly” patients who suffered under US sanctions.

In a ruling Thursday, a civil court in Tehran ordered US government officials to pay $6.785 billion in “material, moral and criminal damages” to the plaintiffs, the judiciary-affiliated Mizan news agency reported.

Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), commonly referred to as “butterfly disease,” is a rare genetic condition that causes the skin to blister, making it as fragile as a butterfly’s wings.

A Swedish medical company, Molnlycke, produces a dressing called Mepilex, which provides significant relief from the burning sensation of skin blisters in these patients.

However, US sanctions have blocked access to this dressing for butterfly patients in Iran, exacerbating their pain, according to medical professionals.

Many patients have died over the years and others have had their limbs amputated, according to Iranian media.

A group of 295 butterfly patients had filed a lawsuit against 30 U.S. individuals and entities they claimed were responsible for imposing and enforcing sanctions that prevent them from accessing the dressing material.

The court found the sanctions “illegal” and caused unnecessary pain and suffering to these patients, most of whom are children.

According to Mizan News, after the US withdrew from the nuclear deal in May 2018, many American and European companies, including Mölnlycke, stopped doing business with Iran.

Molnlycke is the sole producer of the life-saving wound healing dressing for patients with butterfly disease.

According to the TV station, about 20 patients have died in recent years due to the lack of bandages and ointments, causing serious and irreversible physical damage.

Some families had taken legal action in Sweden to force the company to continue its supplies to Iran, but the Swedish government refused to support their demands.

Ultimately, a court in Tehran recognized the humanitarian nature of the case, noting that most of the victims were children, and handed down its verdict on Thursday.

The $6.7 billion includes $1.4 billion in property damage, with $5 million going to each patient. The moral damage amounts to 2.3 billion dollars, with 8 million for each patient. Punitive damages total $2.9 billion, including $10 million for each patient.

Specifically, in March, Iranian authorities seized a Marshall Islands-flagged US oil cargo in the Persian Gulf following a court order to support EB patients.