HC asks hospitals to arrange blood for pregnant HIV-hit woman

New Delhi, Jan 14 (PTI) Coming to the rescue of a HIVpositive pregnant woman, the Delhi High Court today directedthe Lady Harding Medical College and Sucheta Kriplani Hospitalto immediately arrange blood for her following a dip in herhaemoglobin level.

In an interim order, Justice S Muralidhar directed thehospitals to arrange the blood as her husband is a HIVpositive patient and could not donate to her.

"There is an urgent need to issue directions to ensurethe protection of the right to health and life of thepetitioner''s wife and the foetus," the court said.

"A direction is accordingly issued to the MedicalSuperintendent of both the hospitals immediately to arrangeone unit of blood and further quantity of blood as may berequired from any of the authorized blood banks," the courtadded.

The court''s direction came on a petition filed by thehusband who sought a direction to the hospitals for arrangingthe blood for his wife who is in the advance stage ofpregnancy.

Filing the petition, the man said his wife is ninemonths'' pregnant admitted in the Lady Harding Medical Collegeand shifted to Sucheta Kriplani Hospital following a fall inher haemoglobin level to 7.6 and the CD-4 count is 264.

According to the petitioner, he has been asked toprocure one unit of blood in order to facilitate the cesareanoperation which is the medically recommended practice incases like hers.

The court fixed January 21 as the next date of hearingof the case.