The Karen Hospital has been ordered to pay a patient Sh. 2.5 million for forcing her to undergo HIV testing and revealing the results to a third party.
The HIV and Aids Equity Tribunal found Karen Hospital Ltd in Nairobi culpable, and directed it to pay the patient Sh1 million for the testing and Sh1.5 million for violating her right to confidentiality.
According to the tribunal, the patient, who had been admitted to the hospital, was not told that her blood was going to be used to check if she was HIV-positive.
“Where a doctor or other medical personnel obliges a patient to give blood for some undisclosed tests, and thereafter proceeds to use the same to test for HIV, then the doctor or medical personnel will have subjected the said patient to compulsory HIV testing and will have committed a crime,” says the tribunal’s judgment.
– NAIROBI NEWS
