AIIMS wrongly declares man HIV positive, he sues

In July 2014, a patient sought treatment at AIIMS Rishikesh after falling ill. He was initially referred to a local doctor, who then advised him to seek further treatment at a higher medical center. The patient was subsequently admitted to AIIMS Rishikesh on the same day and discharged on July 16, 2014. However, the discharge summary recorded his HIV status as positive. The patient later sought a second opinion at other hospitals, which found him HIV negative.

The Uttarakhand State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission upheld a medical negligence ruling against AIIMS Rishikesh, directing it to pay Rs 60,000 in compensation for the erroneous diagnosis and the suffering caused. The commission dismissed AIIMS Rishikesh's appeal against a 2019 ruling that had previously held it liable. The commission applied a three-part test for medical negligence, finding that AIIMS Rishikesh owed a duty of care to the patient, breached that duty by recording him as HIV positive without adequate diagnostic support, and caused the patient mental agony, social stigma, and emotional distress as a result.