9-yr-old gets HIV at Delhi hospital

New Delhi: In a shocking case of medical negligence, a nine-year-old boy contracted HIV while being treated for anemia, a blood disease, in Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital. Faizan was reported to have contracted HIV during blood transfusion.

The nine-year-old, who is from Garwah, Jharkhand, was referred to Safdarjung Hospital on July 31, 2005 after he was diagnosed with an acute case of anemia.

He was administered with blood transfusion between July 31 and August 20, 2005 and was admitted in the hospital several times.

His father, Naseem Ahmed, says that Faizan had tested negative for HIV when he was first admitted to the hospital. But when the boy was discharged in 2006, Faizan was detected as HIV positive.

The incident forced Faizan’s father to take legal action against the country’s premier hospital.

The Delhi High Court, which is hearing the case, on Wednesday, ruled that the cost of Faizan’s treatment will now be borne by Safdarjung Hospital.

The court also said that if Safdarjang is unable, then the Central Government will have to pay for the treatment.

Meanwhile, Safdarjang Hospital's medical superintendent has told CNN-IBN that Faizan will be treated at the hospital when he comes.

However, there has been no official statement by the hospital regarding the case.

After the court’s verdict CNN-IBN correspondent Arunima spoke to Faizan’s father, Naseem Ahmed. Following is an excerpt of the interview.

CNN-IBN: What was the response of the hospital authorities when you spoke to them regarding Faizan’s condition?

Naseem Ahmed: The hospital authorities said that this virus is not always caught easily and everybody makes mistakes. They did not bother much.

CNN-IBN: So, the hospital authorities accepted that due to their negligence Faizan was infected with HIV positive blood.

Naseem Ahmed: Yes.

CNN-IBN: How have you and your family dealt with this crisis?

Naseem Ahmed: One of my children is handicapped and I was hopeful that Faizan will make up for my other child’s loss. He is a bright boy but after he realised that he contracted the virus he has become very quiet and has lost interest in life. I can’t bear to see him in pain.

CNN-IBN: Is it possible that he had contracted the virus before coming to Safdarjung Hospital?

Naseem Ahmed: That is not possible because he was tested for HIV within one hour of being admitted in the hospital and at that point he tested negative.

CNN-IBN: You have approached the High Court and they have accepted that Safdarjung is at fault. What did the court tell you on Wednesday?

Naseem Ahmed: The High Court has ordered that the hospital or the Government will bear the cost of Faizan’s treatment. This can only make my son live for a few more days but I am aware that there is no cure for this disease.