Tamil Nadu: Pregnant woman transfused with HIV-infected blood at govt hospital

A pregnant woman contracted HIV after infected blood was pumped into her at a government hospital in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu earlier this month. The incident has prompted the Tamil Nadu government to review the stocks in all blood banks of the state to ensure they were free of the deadly virus.

The woman who had received blood to treat her anaemia earlier this has now tested positive. The donor, whose blood was given to the woman was not aware of his HIV-positive status when he gave blood.

According to a report in The Hindu, the man had donated blood at the government hospital in his hometown of Sivakasi in 2016. He had been found to be HIV-positive but he was not told about his status. He again turned up to donate his blood on November 30.

The woman was given the blood brought from the Sivakasi Government Hospital on December 3, according to Joint Director of Health Services (Virudhunagar) Dr R Manoharan. 

In the meanwhile, the donor found out about his HIV-positive status when he underwent a medical check-up for a job abroad. He rushed to the government hospital seeking his blood donation report. His HIV infection was confirmed in a second blood test.

Authorities soon launched a probe to trace the donated blood. They found that it was sent to  Sattur Government Hospital where it was transfused to the pregnant woman. She was then brought to the hospital and tested for HIV infection and was found to be infected with the virus. 

Three employees - two lab-technicians and a counsellor from Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) - of the government hospital in Sivakasi - have been placed under suspension for negligence after a probe by medical officers. 

When the donor had tested positive in 2016 at a blood donation camp in Sivakasi, it was the duty of the counsellor at the ICTC to trace the man and inform him, Dr Manoharan said.

While doctors said they would give her the pregnant woman the best care, Manoharan said he would take steps to get suitable compensation for negligence. We have offered the job of a driver at Government hospital to the woman’s husband,” he added.

The delivery of the woman's second child is expected in January.

State Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar said action has been taken against the erring employees of the blood bank the district collector has also expressed 'regret', apparently to the family, through the revenue divisional officer.

"The government is taking steps to prevent the impact of HIV on the women with the help of technology. All stocks in blood banks will be analysed to ensure they are HIV-free," he told reporters in Chennai.

Meanwhile, the woman and her husband lodged a complaint with Sattur police Wednesday seeking action against the doctors, nurses and employees of the blood bank.

Speaking to reporters, the woman's husband held the Tamil Nadu government responsible for the incident and demanded that it provides the best treatment to her. The husband said that he does not want any job from the government but only the best treatment for his wife.

Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan visited the district and spoke to the woman. 

(With PTI inputs)