Egmore (Tamil Nadu): In 1998, a boy was transfused with HIV positive blood at the Institute of Child Health and Hospital in Egmore, Tamil Nadu. After 20 years of this incident, a Tamil Nadu court has directed the hospital to pay the boy Rs 20 lakh as compensation.

The boy is presently working for a private firm. When the boy was 10 months old, on February 26, 1999, he was admitted in the hospital. The boy had to undergo surgery as his small and large intestines were found intertwined. At the time blood transfusion was done for surgery.

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Later he was discharged on March 18, 1999. Days later the boy showed symptoms of flu and was taken to the same hospital. From thereafter several tests, it was confirmed that the boy had contracted HIV.

From that time, the hospital refused to accept its mistake.

On Saturday (July 20), while passing the order, judge said that the hospital has not produced any documentary evidence to prove that the blood transfused to the boy was tested or screened. She ordered the payment of Rs 20 lakh to the boy along with six percent interest from 2009, when the case was filed.

The court directed the hospital to pay Rs 1,50,010 to the victim as legal expenses and suggested that he be given a government job.

Earlier, in 2018, a  pregnant lady in Tamil Nadu was infected with HIV after undergoing blood transfusion at Sattur government hospital. However, the 19-year-old blood donor, who was affected by HIV positive attempted suicide as he feared shame.

Meanwhile, it could be seen that the number of HIV cases and mistreatment from Tamil Nadu has become a severe issue in the state.