Chennai - Shameful act by Govt.Hospital authorities.

[Guest guest]

CHENNAI: It was a harrowing experience for the kin of a suspected

HIV-positive youth, who committed suicide at Narikuravar Colony in

Pallavaram on Saturday. They had to run around with the body as doctors refused

to conduct post-mortem citing inadequate facilities.According to police, the

25-year-old victim committed suicide by hanging on Saturday afternoon. He took

the extreme step unable to overcome the shock of his blood samples testing

positive for HIV.

When his family members took the body to Chrompet Government

Hospital, doctors said adequate facilities were not available to

conduct post-mortem and asked them to go to Royapettah Government

Hospital.

When they took the body there, hospital authorities said the

post-mortem could be conducted at Chrompet Government Hospital itself

as HIV-positive bodies required special facilities for autopsy.

However, staff at the Chrompet hospital maintained that there was no

provision to conduct the post-mortem.

With no other option, about 100 people, including women, gathered at

the Pallavaram police station with the body and threatened to resort to a road

blockade if immediate steps were not taken to conduct the

post-mortem.

Senior police officials intervened and held discussions with

Resident Medical Officer. “Doctors have agreed to conduct the

post-mortem on Sunday.

There seems to have been a communication gap. The issue has been resolved

amicably, a police official said.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/28/stories/2008092858970300.htm