Wrong diagnosis ‘ruins’ driver

It all started a few months ago when Prakash, 34, started feeling weak. His wife and father took him to the medical college hospital in early December.

On doctor’s advice, he underwent an HIV test, and was told a few days later that he had AIDS.

Upset, his wife left him to live separately with their two children (6 and 11). Twice, he tried to kill himself —— once on railway tracks and the second time by hanging himself. All this while he could not work.

His friends took him to the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Hubli, for a retest. After three tests, the Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centre of KIMS, issued a report on on June 15 saying he was HIV negative.

Prakash went to the SDM Medical College and showed the report. The hospital offered to conduct another test free of cost. On June 23, the SDM report too said that he was not infected. Another test at the district hospital confirmed this.

All this is little consolation for Prakash. “Due to the wrong report, my life is ruined. I have lost everything including wife and children. Can the hospital compensate for that?” he asks.

Dr Niranjan Kumar, Medical Director of SDM Medical College said, “We will look into this. If it has happened because of negligence, stern action will be taken against those responsible.’’ He said the hospital was ready to help Prakash.