CHANDIGARH: A 22-year-old married woman who was misdiagnosed as HIV positive by a private clinic died on Tuesday night after she slipped into a coma in Shimla. Himachal CM Jai Ram Thakur has ordered a probe into the incident.
Fresh tests conducted at a government hospital had shown that she did not have HIV.
The issue was raised in the state assembly by Rohru Congress MLA Mohan Lal Brakta to which Thakur said that the director of the health services would be asked to look into the incident and submit a report within a fortnight.
He said that the woman died at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) in Shimla due to severe mental and emotional shock after she came to know about the HIV positive report. The woman had gone to the private clinic for a check-up due to an ailment. The clinic conducted some tests and gave her the results without apprising her about its contents.
She later went to Kamla Nehru Hospital (KNH) in Shimla for treatment where her husband was told about the report prepared by the private clinic. She was then asked to undergo fresh tests. When the woman came to know that she has been diagnosed 'HIV positive' by the private clinic she went into a coma. She was then shifted to IGMC where she passed away.
The report of the freshly conducted tests at the government hospital had stated that she was not HIV positive.
The MLA demanded strict action against the private clinic situated in the Rohru subdivision in Shimla district and also sought adequate compensation for the 22-year-old woman's family.
The Chief Minister stated that the matter is very sensitive and after the probe report is received, strict action will be taken against the private clinic for preparing a wrong report. Also, compensation to the deceased woman's family will be provided as per rules.