'Good doctor' in Cambodian village faces life sentence for allegedly infecting at least 140 people with HIV
So-called medical worker, who admitted reusing needles on patients, allegedly infected more than 140 people with HIV at his village clinic
Many of Yem Chrin's former patients still refer to him as "the good doctor", but others say the life sentence he faces for allegedly infecting more than 140 people in a Cambodian village with HIV is not enough.
He was speaking at the home he mortgaged, along with his rice fields, to pay medical fees to the doctor this year.
The burden of the debt was bad enough - interest on the US$1,300 loan was due yesterday, although Seoum Chhorm could not afford to pay it.
But it was only late last week that Seoum Chhorm and his fellow villagers discovered what may be the true cost of the treatments that were administered by Yem Chrin. Seoum Chhorm, his wife and two of their grandchildren are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). All received injections from Yem Chrin, who has admitted reusing needles on multiple patients.
He was charged on Monday with three offences, including murder and running an unlicensed clinic. The Associated Press reported that Yem Chrin had no medical training.