AIIMS Rishikesh fined Rs 60,000 for wrong HIV-positive record

The Uttarakhand state consumer commission has upheld a negligence ruling against AIIMS Rishikesh for repeatedly recording a patient as HIV positive in its medical records, even though subsequent tests showed the patient was HIV negative. The commission dismissed AIIMS's appeal on August 17 and directed the hospital to pay the patient Rs 50,000 compensation and Rs 10,000 litigation costs.

The patient was admitted to AIIMS on July 15, 2014, and discharged the next day with a discharge summary stating he was HIV positive. He later tested negative at two Dehradun hospitals. AIIMS denied conducting an HIV test and argued the consumer commission had no jurisdiction because its services are largely free. The state commission rejected both arguments, noting AIIMS had charged the patient Rs 270 for investigations.

The commission said an HIV diagnosis requires special care due to severe social and psychological consequences, and that AIIMS's own discharge summary contradicted its denial of the diagnosis. It ruled that the hospital breached its duty of care and caused mental agony and stigma to the patient.