Girl with HIV-tainted blood may sue ministry

Riaydh, Feb 19: Dr. Muhsen Al-Hazimi, chairman of the Health Commission at the Shoura Council, said that the 12-year-old girl who receive an HIV-tainted blood transfusion has yet to be declared HIV-positive and there is a good possibility that her sickle cell anemia is hindering the progress of the virus. Dr. Al-Hazimi said that girl is carrying half a liter of contaminated blood, while the total volume of blood in the human body is 7 to 8 liters.

At worst, he said, contamination represents a ratio of 1 to 15. Dr. Hazimi said this virus is considered a weak virus, and is detectable only after a few weeks. “Until now, it has not been determined that the girl is infected with HIV, because it takes up to 6 weeks to appear in the body,” a medical source at King Faysal specialist hospital said. “The girl is receiving the necessary treatment until all the results come in. Then we will know whether or not she is infected.”

On the legal front, the girl’s family intends to sue the Ministry of Halth. The case is now with an independent Shariah body that will rule on the matter later regarding the issues of public and private rights.

“The girl’s family has the right to sue the Ministry of Health as an entity, not just one department,” said Farraj Al-Oqla, a Saudi attorney.should be paid by the ministry,” he added.

The lawyer said the girl should be given treatment at the best US, German or British hospital. He added the expenses should be paid by the ministry. If she dies, the ministry should pay the blood money for her family, he said. “This is a very grave matter. If the ministry continues at this level, how can anyone trust oneself to this country? The Saudi judicial system has not yet matured to the level of paying large punitive damages. The penalty is determined by the administrative and the appeals court.” Whatever the penalty, the lawyer said, “it is nowhere near the psychological and social damage the girl has suffered.”