NHRC notice to UP govt over 'stigmatisation' of HIV+ mother

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had issued notices to Uttar Pradesh government and police over reports of "stigmatisation" of an HIV positive mother in a hospital in Meerut.
The Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report alleging doctors' apathy towards the HIV positive patient in a hospital in Meerut.
"Stigmatisation, discrimination and denial on the basis of HIV or AIDS are anathema to human rights. The contents of the media report, if true, raise serious questions about the violation of human rights of the victim," observed the Commission.
The Commission has issued notices to the Secretary, Department of Health, Government of Uttar Pradesh and Senior Superintendent of Police, Meerut calling for detailed reports within four weeks.

According to the media report, the doctors at Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial Medical College in Meerut not only openly declared an expecting mother as an AIDS patient by pasting a big piece of paper on her bed that screamed 'Bio Hazard +ve' but also made her to clean her medical waste.
A senior doctor also abused the woman for "bringing another deceased child into the world".

The woman, aged 30 years, was admitted to the hospital for a caesarian delivery on June 19.
Reportedly, due to this hand written pamphlet, all her relatives and friends who visited her at the hospital have now come to know of her HIV+ status adding to the woman's extreme anxiety.

Hospital authorities confirmed the "unfortunate incident" and said they had apologised to the patient.