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Expert team begins probe after 9-year-old cancer patient contracts HIV through blood transfusion

  • A Keralite girl, who is diagnosed with blood cancer, has tested positive for HIV allegedly after undergoing a blood transfusion 
  • Health minister KK Shylaja said the government would bear all expenses for further treatment of the girl
  • The Kerala Human Rights Commission has also ordered a high-level inquiry into the matter
Expert team probe 9 year old girl cancer patient HIV blood transfusion

An expert medical team has began the probe into the case of a 9-year-old blood cancer patient being tested HIV positive, allegedly after getting a blood transfusion at the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) in Thiruvananthapuram. 

Taking a serious view of a complaint by the victim's father, state health minister KK Shylaja directed constitution of a panel, headed by joint-director of medical education (DME) Sreekumari, to probe the matter and submit a report. 

The minister said the state government would bear all expenses for further treatment of the girl. The minor girl was being treated at the Government Medical College in Alappuzha and later referred to the RCC. 

Also read: 9-year-old cancer patient found HIV+ after blood transfusion

According to the police, the girl was being treated at the Alappuzha Medical College, from where she was referred to the RCC for further treatment. Noticing swelling in one of her eyes, doctors at the RCC institute had carried out various tests, including a blood test, which revealed that the girl was HIV positive. 

The RCC authorities said the girl had approached them with the report of a blood test conducted in external laboratories, and that they have ordered an immediate departmental inquiry into the incident. 

The Kerala Human Rights Commission has also ordered a high-level inquiry into the matter. Commission's acting chairperson P Mohandas said stringent action should be taken against the hospital staff if they were found guilty. It also urged the CPM-led state government to compensate the girl's family. 

"The commission has ordered a high-level probe. RCC director and health secretary should submit an explanation regarding the incident within three weeks," an official release said. 

Meanwhile, opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala visited the girl and her family at the hospital on Friday and demanded a comprehensive probe into the incident. 

"Those responsible should be dismissed from service," PTI quoted the Congress leader as saying, adding that the government should give financial assistance to the family. The Congress leader made the demand in a phone conversation with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

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