The Madras High Court has ordered the Tamil Nadu government to pay a monthly monetary assistance of Rs 7,000 to a woman who was transfused with HIV-infected blood at a government hospital in December 2018.  

The division bench of Justice N. Kirubakaran and Justice B. Pugalendhi heard the petition last week. The 23-year-old woman was transfused with the HIV-positive blood at a government blood bank in Sattur, Tamil Nadu. The donor was unaware of his HIV-positive status when he gave blood. Three employees of the government hospital in Sivakasi, which collected the blood, were suspended for their negligence.

Following the petitions, the Court had earlier ordered the State Government to pay Rs 25 lakh as compensation to the victim and construct a house for her. The Court had also ordered that the woman be provided a job suitable to her qualifications.

As per her statement before the Court, she was paid Rs 10 lakh and the children were paid Rs 7.5 lakh each. Further, to avoid any kind of harassment by neighbours, the Government was also directed to provide a separate water connection to the residence of the victim.

The Court had also ordered that her husband be provided with proper psychiatric counselling by appropriate medical experts. A certificate has been produced from the doctor attached to the Government Hospital, Sathur stating that the victim has to spend a sum of Rs 250 to Rs 300 per day for nutrition to boost her immunity.

In view of the above, the Court directed the government to pay a sum of Rs 7,500 every month to the victim.

K.K. Ramakrishnan, Additional Public Prosecutor, appointed by the Court to assist the victim would submit that Siddha Medical Centre is providing treatment for AIDS patients by providing RNA therapy and that is available at Siddha Research Centre, Tambaram. The Additional Advocate General appearing for the respondents was directed to get instructions.

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