Re: HIV-Infected Woman Commits Suicide at Goa Medical College & Hospital

[Guest guest]

Dear Mr Inamdar

Re: /message/11709

I read the story. To me it looks highly ridiculous to blame corruption for every

thing.

What role you were expecting for NACO in this case?. The ostrcism is

purely a social issue requires interventions from people like you.

What stops you in blaming yourself & people like you who direct their more

energy in activism than in fighting social issues.

Dr S K Trivedi

e-mail: <iidmbpl@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

Re: /message/11709

It is really sad to know about the suicide case in Goa. I think in this case

one has to find out ..

* Whether the woman went through any pre-test and post -test counselling?

* Did she consent for testing?

* How was the report disclosed to her?

* Were there any issues related to confidentiality?

* If the counselling was done what was the assessment of the counsellor on her

emotional and mental status, during/ after counselling.?

* Are there any records of counseling maintained?

* What were the doctors/ nurses assessment/observations about her mental status

after disclosing the report to her?

* Did she know about her husbands status? If yes, Was she counselled when her

husband tested positive?

* Were there any relatives accompanying the patients?

* What support system did she have? Was this explored during counselling?

* How was the health care provider's behaviour with the patient?

* Was there any discrimination by the hospital staff or by the relatives? 

It also reflects on the training and competence of the health care providers

to support people who test positive. It includes not only counsellor but also

the health attendants, nursing staff, doctors and everyone in the hospital who

interact with the patients as part of their duty.

Being aware of the mental status and the depression one can go through after

knowing the positive status, special care has to be taken by all the staff to

provide emotional support to the patient.    

 

Though exact reason for suicide, in this case,  may be difficult

to ascertain, one can prevent such incidences by improving the quality of

provider behaviour at all the levels and of course the most important

component of counselling. needs to be strengthened.

Also one needs to look into the selection, training and continuum education of

the counsellors. 

 

Swati Pongurlekar

Independent Consultant

(Research, Training ,Evaluation, Documentation)

e-mail: <swatip187@...>