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AIDS-Poland: Polish couple seeks compensation in AIDS infection case

Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000 click here for francais language version

WARSAW, Dec 1 (AFP) - An HIV-positive couple is seeking a million zlotys (258,000 euros, 226,000 dollars) in compensation from the Polish government after doctors failed to warn one of them he was infected with the virus, AIDS activists said Friday.

The man donated blood several years ago at a government-run clinic, but was never informed he was HIV positive, the Polish news agency PAP reported.

His partner discovered she was infected four years later, said Ryszard Frankowicz of a patients' rights association.

"The center sent a letter to the man, but it was returned and the institution made no further attempt to find the patient," said Frankowicz.

"It's a case of putting the health of people in danger," he added.

"A doctor has the right to commit a mistake but not negligence."

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