Family appeals against 'empty' damages award for HIV-infected son

A family is appealing against a damages award handed down in the case of a five-year-old boy who contracted HIV in hospital through contaminated blood.

In April, the Zhoukou City Intermediate People's Court in Henan awarded 515,613 yuan (HK$483,946) to the family of Zhang Chengshuai to cover his medical and court costs, the China Business Times' News Weekly reported.

While the amount was one of the biggest payments ordered by a Chinese court, the family say the ruling is an empty one, according to the paper.

On October 20, 1998, the then two-year-old Chengshuai suffered burns to 30 per cent of his body in a scalding accident at home. Dr Wang Wei, of the Taikang County Public Treatment Hospital, told Zhang Jianjun that his son needed a blood transfusion, but a better supply of blood could be found at the Taikang County Women's and Children's Health Hospital.

Instead of giving him tested blood from the hospital's supplies, Women and Children's Health Hospital staff member Xie Zhenyun helped secure a donation from a blood-seller named Cao Jigong.

Mr Zhang's brother-in-law, Shang Shouyong, approved the decision to use a blood-seller to save money, but took the donor at his word that he was healthy, according the report. The donor's blood was later revealed to be infected with HIV. Transmission of the virus became evident during follow-up treatment for Chengshuai at an army hospital.