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HIV-Positive Patient Denied Timely Surgery, Forced to Bounce Between Hospitals
11 Nov
Summary
- 37-year-old HIV-positive patient denied timely appendectomy surgery
- Referred between 3 hospitals before receiving treatment elsewhere
- Inquiry launched into possible medical negligence and discrimination
On October 31, 2025, a 37-year-old HIV-positive patient from Borivali, Mumbai, was admitted to Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivali with severe abdominal pain. Diagnostic tests indicated sub-acute appendicitis, a condition requiring urgent surgical intervention. However, the patient was discharged the same day and referred to Cooper Hospital.
At Cooper Hospital, doctors questioned the basis of the referral and sent the patient back. He was then directed to Nair Hospital, where he finally underwent the necessary appendectomy treatment. The ordeal was distressing for the patient, who felt he was denied care due to his HIV status.
The Mumbai District AIDS Control Society has now initiated an inquiry to determine if the referral chain was medically justified or if the patient faced indirect discrimination, which would violate the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017. Shatabdi Hospital's medical superintendent has denied any lapse in care, stating the referral was based on clinical considerations.
The incident has raised concerns about the persistence of stigma in public healthcare settings, despite years of sensitization programs. The inquiry aims to ensure no patient faces delays in life-saving care due to their health status.
