Six health workers sentenced to death in Libya
BMJ 2004; 328 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.328.7449.1153-a (Published 13 May 2004) Cite this as: BMJ 2004;328:1153
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One read with concern that health care workers in question were
sentence to death penalty for alleged spread of HIV infection in a
hospital, presumably breaching their professional duty of care in HIV
prevention.
The death penalty pronounced on these workers whilst extremely
shocking and morally wrong, appeared to be an easy means by which the
Libyan health policy makers sought to escape liability for HIV as a
nosocomial infection. Ironically, as a matter of fact, the infection
predates the defendants' working in the hospital. See Dr Qureshi's letter.
One of the few questions the health authorities of the country should
have asked could be "As policy makers, did we fail these children?" If so,
"how"? "What can then be the measures to remedy the shortcomings?" Not
resorting to "shooting down" the poor nurses and doctor! If anyone is
guilty of this, it must be the equivalent of a Health Service Minister.
One must recommend to the examinations of UK common law on the issue of
nosocomial infections through blood transfusion.
It is worth pointing out the obvious that if there is inherent
weakness in the infection control policy within the country, these
nosocomial based HIV infection will not stop with the execution of the
poor nurses and doctor who must have been working within the constraint of
the infection control policy of Libya.
Imposing death penalty on these health care professionals is morally
wrong and unjust. The penalty is not proportionate to however much the
degree of breach of their duty of care to their patients. I am appalled
that a modern court of justice can rule as such.
If the Libyan health authority is keen to learn from us on the
universal precaution and effective infection control measures, I am sure
all the pathology and clinical risk management departments of UK hospitals
can oblige.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests
Dear sir:
Blood transfusion is a well known method of transmitting HIV
infection to the recipient of blood. Blood for transfusion therefore must
be checked for any infective agents including HIV. This is a universal
known fact and policy observed by all medical personnel around the world.
In the light of HIV infection transmitted to many children
admitted to one of the hospitals in Libya, six foreign health workers
including one Palestinian doctor have been sentenced to death by justice
authorities in Libya. According to experts opinion in particular the
discoverer of this virus, hospital infection (nosocomial) which may
include HIV caused AIDS in reported children. This expert evidence was
ruled over by the concerned authorities. Now, five Bulgarians and one
aforesaid doctor are waiting for their deaths in Libya.
If it is truely a nosocomial infection-HIV, which infected children
but not transfused blood, all the six health workers must be absolved of
their death sentences. But if it is blood that caused HIV among children
and moreover there were no facilities to check infective agents including
HIV in the blood meant for transfusion, hospital management authorities
should be held responsible because they did not provide blood bank with
basic kits to diagnose and identify various infective agents including
HIV. Likewise, the six health workers should also have their proportionate
share of panalties redecided by the court but not death sentences.
Reference:
Katka Krosnar. Six health workers sentenced to death in Libya. BMJ
2004; 328: 1153-a.
Competing interests:
Childrens rights protector and against death sentences
Competing interests: No competing interests
Action from BMJ readers ?
Quote from the article:
The court verdict has been condemned by politicians
and organisations worldwide.
Could the BMJ organize a petition for its readers ?
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests