Child cancer patient turning HIV positive: Police collects evidence
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With a child cancer patient at the Regional Cancer Centre turning HIV positive creating an uproar in the state, the government as well as the police have commenced a probe into the incident. An expert team led by Joint DME Dr K Sreekumari, which was constituted to look into the circumstances that led to the infection, has been asked to submit a report within a week.The Opposition has come out against the medical negligence, demanding action against those responsible for the incident in which a nine-year-old girl contracted HIV after allegedly undergoing blood transfusion at RCC.
While the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) has registered a suo motu case, the Kerala State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) has ordered a high-level probe into the incident. The KSCPCR has also directed the Regional Cancer Centre director and the Kerala State AIDS Control Society to inquire into the incident and submit a report within 15 days. The KSHRC has asked the government to pay compensation to the family of the girl who contracted HIV/AIDS during treatment at the RCC.
The commission has also recommended disciplinary action against the staff at RCC who were responsible for the child’s plight. It also asked the RCC director and Health Secretary to inquire into the incident and submit a report within three weeks.
Police collect evidence
The Medical College police on Friday conducted an inspection at the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) following the complaint of the girl’s parent alleging medical negligence.
The police team led by Cybercity Assistant Commissioner of Police A Pramod Kumar collected details of persons who had donated blood in March. Kumar said it was known the girl had undergone blood transfusion 40 times. The police are also planning to send the medical records of the girl to a lab in Hyderabad after collecting her blood samples.
‘Action only after getting scientific evidence’
Health Minister K K Shylaja said that action would be taken against any person only after getting scientific evidence. She had on Thursday said the government would take care of all further treatment of the child.
Chennithala calls for detailed probe
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, who visited the girl and the parents, called for a detailed probe into the incident and strict action against those responsible for the negligence. He said the government should come forward to help the child and her family.