Infant gets HIV; notice to hospital, blood bank

THE TWO-DAY-OLD infant had to undergo surgical procedure colostomy.

The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) issued a notice to Fernandez Hospital and the Aarohi Blood Bank allegedly during an infant contracted HIV after platelet transfusion and a claim of `6 crore was made by the family.

The petition filed by infant’s father before NCDRC said the child was born with a defect whereby the anal orifice was too narrow for it to pass faecal matter.

The two-day-old infant had to undergo surgical procedure colostomy for rectification of the defect. The complainant alleged that the procedure was not communicated properly to the family who was told that there would be only a few stitches. The surgery was performed on September 7, 2016, and during that time the father was told that there was a lot of blood loss and the baby was in a critical condition and needed platelet transfusion for which a single donor had to be arranged.

The petition found fault with the blood procedure of Aarohi Blood Bank. It said blood from the bank was used and not that of the single donor they had arranged. The child was diagnosed with full blown HIV infection on March 7, 2017 and further medical attention was not offered by the hospital.

The family moved the NCDRC and was demanding compensation for the alleged medical negligence. Fernandez Hospital officials said it was yet to receive the notice and the matter would be taken up as per law with the commission.