Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Dealing with HIV

I was shocked to read about the behaviour of doctors at the Meerut Medical College and Hospital who refused to deliver the baby of an HIV-positive woman, and instead gave directions to her husband and watched from the sidelines.

If doctors behave in such a manner towards persons afflicted with HIV, how can one expect the common people to adopt a sympathetic attitude towards them? Doctors and health workers are expected to know the precautions to be taken while treating a HIV-positive patient.

L.S. Herdenia,
Bhopal

* * *

The appalling incident highlights the extent of prejudice even among doctors against the HIV affected. This is not the first time doctors have refused to treat an HIV-positive patient. A similar incident was reported from Kerala in which doctors refused to treat an accident victim.

The medical profession is fast becoming a business and the concept of service is taking a back seat. There is utter disregard for human life. This was evident a few days ago when a doctor couple from Manapparai, Tiruchi, allowed their 15-year-old son to perform a caesarean section. All doctors involved in such incidents should be barred from practising medicine.

R. Balaraman,
Salem

* * *

The Meerut incident and the sorry plight of the five HIV-positive children in Kerala, who are presently studying at home because the parents of other students do not want them to attend the same school as their children, show that the AIDS awareness campaigns have made little impact on us.

The social stigma is proving to be more painful to the victims than the disease itself.

Barun Kumar Mahapatro
Berhampur

* * *

The plight of the HIV-positive children in Pampady once again highlights the hypocrisy of a society that boasts of high literacy and a progressive outlook. It is obvious from the incident that the age-old virus of social discrimination is still lurking in the minds of the people and manifests itself in some form or the other from time to time.

What is more unfortunate is that no political party or NGO has come forward either to protest over the issue or educate the locals on it.

K.V. Ravindran,
Payyanur

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