Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Chennai hospital shows the way in discarding discrimination

— Photo: R. Ragu

J. Amalorpavanathan explaining the surgery.

CHENNAI: Last Saturday, when waste from one of the operation theatres of the Government General Hospital here was discarded, stigma and discrimination were also thrown out with them. Doctors performed a bypass surgery, saving the foot of a HIV-positive patient under anti-retroviral treatment.

Rengan, 43, of Arupukkotai, tested positive for HIV in 1999, and had recently developed severe pain in the left leg. After going from hospital to hospital in the southern districts, Rengan was referred to the Tamabaram Government Hospital for Thoracic Medicine. From there, he went to the Government General Hospital, where a 64-slice CT was done to confirm the diagnosis.

He was found to have a major block in the blood vessel from the left groin to the upper leg. There was a major chance of amputation, if the leg was left untreated. In addition, his heart pumping was poor, and there was a blood clot in the heart. Vascular surgeons decided to operate on him to save his limb, after explaining all the complications and risks to him.

Once J. Amalorpavanathan, Professor, Vascular Surgery, decided to perform the operation, he found his team rushing to help him. Surgeons S. Saravanan, Bhaktavatsalam, Illaya Kumar, anaesthetist Krishna Kumar and theatre nurse Rajammal, and postgraduates Rajarajan and S. Ayyapan helped with the surgery on July 12.

In the theatre, all universal precautions, especially while performing a surgery on persons with HIV and Hepatitis, were followed.

“I had a feeling that my husband would be fine once we came to Chennai. Anyway, the government hospital was our last hope. He is the only earning member and does not make much as a driver. We cannot afford to spend on private hospitals,” says Jaya, Rengan’s wife. The couple, who have come to Chennai leaving their two sons back home, are happy with the treatment at the hospital. “I know what discrimination is, I have felt it before. But here, they are treating me well, though they know I am HIV-positive. I am thankful to the doctors, as my pain has subsided,” Rengan says with gratitude.“Our hospital does not turn away anyone. Therefore anyone with any disease can walk in and expect to be treated free of cost here,” says Director of Medical Education T.P. Kalaniti. “This case is an example that needs to be followed throughout the State,” says Rama Pandian of the Tamil Nadu Network of Positive People. “…Especially at a time when discrimination continues even in government hospitals in the case of emergency procedures and surgeries.” He says that quite often even if senior surgeons are willing to operate, the supporting staff refuse to co-operate.

“It is true that some stigma and discrimination still exist in healthcare, but instances such as this surgery are increasing. Again, we have a good record, in the government sector, with positive women’s deliveries,” says Supriya Sahu, project director, Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society.

The society, which provides disposables (for surgery) and post-exposure prophylaxis (for surgeons) free of cost, does not treat lightly any case of neglect (of positive persons) in government hospitals.

*Names changed to protect identity

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