Hospital fined for misdiagnosis; AIIMS pays ₹60,000 to patient

AIIMS Rishikesh News: AIIMS Rishikesh declared a patient HIV-positive, whereas subsequent tests revealed him to be negative. Citing medical negligence, the Uttarakhand Consumer Commission has ordered the payment of ₹60,000 in compensation.

Healthcare Legal Update: What happens if a hospital informs a patient they have a disease they do not actually have? What rights does the patient have in such a situation? One such case has emerged from AIIMS Rishikesh. Hospital records had listed a patient as HIV-positive, but subsequent tests at other hospitals found him to be HIV-negative. Holding AIIMS Rishikesh responsible in this matter, the Uttarakhand State Consumer Commission ordered the hospital to pay ₹60,000 in compensation to the patient.

What is the full story?

The incident dates back to 2014. A resident of Bhagwanpur, Haridwar, was referred to AIIMS Rishikesh for treatment after falling ill. The medical records and discharge summary issued after his treatment there listed him as HIV-positive. When the patient's condition deteriorated, his family took him to another hospital in Dehradun. A repeat test there showed him to be HIV-negative. Following this, the patient approached the Consumer Commission regarding the erroneous medical report.

What was AIIMS's explanation?

AIIMS Rishikesh denied having declared the patient HIV-positive. The hospital claimed that no HIV test had been conducted and no such disease had been confirmed. AIIMS attributed the entry to a clerical error in the records.

However, the Commission did not accept the hospital's argument. It found that the patient had been repeatedly recorded as HIV-positive in AIIMS's own medical records and had even been advised to undergo further HIV treatment. The hospital failed to provide a valid explanation for these records or produce the relevant test documentation.

Why did the Commission find negligence?

The Consumer Commission stated that hospitals must exercise extreme caution in cases involving serious conditions like HIV. Labeling an individual as HIV-positive without adequate grounds can cause them mental anguish, social stigma, and emotional distress. According to the Commission, it was the hospital's responsibility to follow proper medical procedures and produce the necessary tests or documentation to substantiate the HIV-positive diagnosis. The Commission deemed the failure to do so an act of negligence.

Order to pay ₹60,000

In this case, the Haridwar District Consumer Commission had ordered AIIMS in April 2019 to pay ₹50,000 as compensation and ₹10,000 towards litigation costs. AIIMS had appealed against this decision to the State Commission. On August 17, 2026, the Uttarakhand State Consumer Commission upheld the District Commission's verdict. This means AIIMS Rishikesh is required to pay a total of ₹60,000 to the patient.