This story is from September 21, 2011

HIV patient denied treatment, moves court

Patients infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are being denied treatment by hospitals in the State, points out a petition before the Kerala High Court. The case will be heard by Chief Justice J Chelameswar and Justice PR Ramachandra Menon on Wednesday.
HIV patient denied treatment, moves court
KOCHI: Patients infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are being denied treatment by hospitals in the State, points out a petition before the Kerala High Court. The case will be heard by Chief Justice J Chelameswar and Justice PR Ramachandra Menon on Wednesday.
Foundation for Integrated Research in Mental Health, a voluntary health organization based at Thiruvananthapuram, has taken up the case of an HIV positive patient who was denied treatment by a private hospital at Thiruvananthapuram and is moving a petition before the high court challenging the stances taken by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Kerala State Aids Control Society (KSACS) towards the treatment denial.

Ashok Nair, who is HIV positive, was denied treatment when he was taken to Cosmopolitan hospital at Thiruvananthapuram after he suffered multiple fractures in a traffic accident. He was advised of the need for urgent surgery as he had suffered multiple fractures and was taken to the trauma care wing of the hospital. Ashok told the hospital staff that he was HIV positive. Upon learning that he was HIV positive, the hospital authorities denied to provide treatment to him and referred him to the Medical College Hospital of Thiruvananthapuram.
Ashok approached the human rights commission questioning the hospital's denial of treatment. KSACS enquired into the incident and submitted a report that accepted the hospital's stance that the patient was sent back as he was in need of surgery for which the hospital didn't have facilities. When the petition by Ashok was considered by NHRC, it accepted KSACS' report and dismissed allegations of treatment denial.The petitioner alleges that the explanation by the hospital is not credible as their website boasts of a specialty clinic for orthopaedic and trauma care.
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About the Author
Mahir Haneef

Mahir Haneef has been covering the High Court of Kerala since 2011.

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