Eight-year hell after Aids error

capt_buzzard · Post by **capt_buzzard** » Tue Aug 31, 2004 4:07 am

A man spent eight years preparing to die of Aids after being wrongly diagnosed as HIV-positive.

Jim Malone, 56,a former US army clerk,lost weight,grew so depressed he could not work and was provided with home nursing ect.

A testing firm in Califonia wrongly diagnosed him in 1996. A clinic in San Franisco which checked the test spotted the mistake but failed to tell Mr Malone. The error was finally spotted in a computerised review. He now plans to sue,and if successful could expect millions for the lost of his eight years.

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Tue Aug 31, 2004 4:36 am

I hope he wins his lawsuit and wins big. I also hope he now enjoys life to the fullest.

Tombstone · Post by **Tombstone** » Tue Aug 31, 2004 8:18 am

This brings up a good question for each of us. If you were tested for a very serious ailment and it came back positive. Would you elect to have it taken again several months later just to make sure?

You read about lab mistakes all the time. Personally, I wouldn't throw in the towel until I had this confirmed.

What do say?

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Tue Aug 31, 2004 8:47 am

One might have thought he'd realise (picture the scenario: "Hello, Mr X, I'm

afraid you've a terrible disease, and only a year or two to live".... two years

later and "???"), or that follow-up tests and treatment would have revealed

the truth. Surely in the U.S.A. someone isn't just diagnosed as being HIV+

and then abandoned???

Tombstone · Post by **Tombstone** » Tue Aug 31, 2004 8:56 am

I don't think so - but you never know. Something and someone always can slip through the cracks.

Unfortunately, the people who I knew who had AIDS declined rapidly - but this was before a real drug treatment was in place. The ones who I really feel sorry for are the ones who contracted HIV and began deteriorating before anyone really knew what was going on. (early 1980's.)

I feel sorry for this guy. But the silver lining is there.

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Tue Aug 31, 2004 9:08 am

Tombstone wrote: I don't think so - but you never know. Something and someone always can slip through the cracks.

Erm, no comment....

Tombstone wrote: Unfortunately, the people who I knew who had AIDS declined rapidly - but this was before a real drug treatment was in place. The ones who I really feel sorry for are the ones who contracted HIV and began deteriorating before anyone really knew what was going on. (early 1980's.)

I feel sorry for this guy. But the silver lining is there.

Yup.... I wonder how he felt just having learnt that his number was not yet

up, and before thoughts of revenge....

Tombstone · Post by **Tombstone** » Tue Aug 31, 2004 9:14 am

Thought cycle for this guy?

Elation! .... Utter anger! .... I'm gonna be rich!

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Tue Aug 31, 2004 7:43 pm

Bill Sikes wrote: One might have thought he'd realise (picture the scenario: "Hello, Mr X, I'm

afraid you've a terrible disease, and only a year or two to live".... two years

later and "???"), or that follow-up tests and treatment would have revealed

the truth. Surely in the U.S.A. someone isn't just diagnosed as being HIV+

and then abandoned???

I imagine it happens more than we know. If he didn't have medical coverage, the doctors, hospitals, labs, etc. aren't going to be to concerned.

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 12:56 am

Peg wrote: I imagine it happens more than we know. If he didn't have medical coverage, the doctors, hospitals, labs, etc. aren't going to be to concerned.

Ah. I'd forgotten about that. In Britian, a diagnosis such as this would lead to

the patient passing along a "conveyer belt" of various further diagnostics and

treatments.

capt_buzzard · Post by **capt_buzzard** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 5:15 am

Of course Bill, it would never happen in Britian, :-2

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 5:20 am

capt_buzzard wrote: Of course Bill, it would never happen in Britian, :-2

No. Never in Britian. You're right.

capt_buzzard · Post by **capt_buzzard** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 2:53 am

ah Yes, the full treatment.