Doubly sentenced

Categories: Singapore

The five blood donors who was found to have knowingly lied about sexual history and later found to have HIV was charged yesterday. What is sad about this case is not only that five individual was found to be inflicted with HIV but the fact that they were 'doubly' sentenced. First they were sentenced in court for knowingly lying in answering the legally-binding questionnaire which is a pre-requisite for blood donation. This is the consequence of their actions. What is unfortunate in my view is the fact that they were publicly named in the national newspaper. In normal circumstances, HIV carriers' identity is kept secret. Despite the change in the law recently, this is still the case as only the spouse is allowed to be told and therefore the doctor-patient confidentially breached. However for the five, their names had been splashed in the newspaper and their lives will forever be changed. They will tend to be ostracised, their job prospect will be affected and generally live in 'shame'. I feel that this is unfare to them because they are doubly charged - by the court of law and by the society.