Thirty million kyat is about right for a wrong diagnosis of HIV.
There are several issues raised by this story.
If overtesting for HIV is done among a low risk population, there is a greater chance that a positive test is a false positive. This has occurred elsewhere in Southeast Asia. This case is an example.
If the national testing algorithm is used, two tests will ensure that a positive test means a positive patient.
Jamie
++++++++++++++++++
Court tells hospital to pay K30 million for wrong diagnosis of HIV
Si Thu Lwin
Myanmar Times
21 Feb 2018
The Mandalay district court on Tuesday ordered the City Hospital Mandalay to pay a patient K30 million (US$22,744) for misdiagnosing him of being afflicted with HIV.
The case occurred in October 2015 when U Win Tin, from Phaya Hla village in Taungthar township, was hospitalised at the City Hospital Mandalay and was told he was HIV positive and that the virus has spread to his lungs.
The victim’s family sought more laboratory tests in the National Laboratory and other hospitals in Yangon and the results showed he was free of HIV, according to Daw Thida Win, the patient’s daughter.
“Their laboratory test result disgraced and humiliated our family,” she said. “It also depressed the whole family. So we went to Yangon to have him tested again because …we knew that our father was HIV negative,” she said.
“When we complained about the test result, the (City Hospital Mandalay) doctors responded angrily and told us to sue the hospital if we can afford it,” Daw Thida Win told reporters after the court’s verdict.
“That is why we filed a case and demanded K30 million in compensation,” she added.
The patient’s family sued the hospital in October 2016 and the court passed the judgment in the case after one year and six months.
“We also want to inform other people not to believe in medical results of a hospital and they should have a second opinion from another hospital if necessary,” said Daw Thida Win.
Daw Nwe Nwe Win, head of City Hospital Mandalay, refused to comment on the court verdict.
“So far, we haven’t known how the court decided. But it is up to the court’s decision. We have no other comment,” she said.
U Win Tin, who is now in his 60s, has recovered from his illness, her daughter said, describing him as an ordinary farmer who does not stay overnight outside their home.
Lawyer U Maung Maung Aye provided free legal service to the family.
https://www.mmtimes.com/news/court-tells-hospital-pay-k30-million-wrong-diagnosis-hiv.html
