Rights panel initiates case
in HIV case

TRIVANDRUM - The Kerala State Human Rights Commission on Thursday took a suo moto case against the health department for allegedly causing HIV infection to an eight-year-old girl through blood transfusion in two government hospitals.

By (Our Correspondent)

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Published: Sun 31 Mar 2013, 12:14 AM

Last updated: Tue 7 Apr 2015, 4:13 PM

The commission has issued notices to the Director of Health Services to explain how this serious lapse occurred. The girl, suffering from thalassaemia, had received blood transfusion in the Calicut Medical College Hospital and the Wayanad district hospital at Mananthavadi.

It is suspected that the girl got infected with HIV either from contaminated blood or an inadequately sterilized syringe as her parents, sibling, and relatives were found HIV negative. The girl was tested HIV positive in July 2012. An elisa test subsequently in September confirmed the infection.

The Medical College authorities said there was little chance of the girl getting HIV infected during blood transfusion at the hospital because they collect blood only after screening. The Wayanad district hospital authorities have also made a similar claim.

AIDS Control Society officials say screening could not totally rule out HIV infection as it will not reflect if the person giving the blood is in the window period.


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