7 health workers who ‘deliberately infected’ 426 kids with HIV virus are sentenced to death in Libya
7 health workers who ‘deliberately infected’ 426 kids with HIV virus are sentenced to death in Libya
06 May 2004
Source: MedicalNewsToday
Seven people, including six Bulgarian medics and one Palestinian doctor were sentenced to death by a Libyan court for ‘deliberately infecting hundreds of kids with the HIV virus’. The men will be executed by firing squad.
They had given 426 children contaminated blood products. They were detained in Tripoli in 1999. According to the Bulgarian media the verdicts may be appealed.
So far, over 40 kids have died.
As Libya comes more into the limelight and seeks greater friendship with the West, this court case has received greater attention worldwide.
According to Bulgarian radio, they expect Gaddafi to pardon them as a gesture of goodwill towards Europe.
The judge said the medics and the doctor gave kids HIV infected blood in a bid to find an AIDS cure.
The health professionals deny guilt. They say they have been tortured, had daily beatings, sexual assaults and electric shocks from the Libyan police.
According to outside experts, the children were infected as a result of poor hygiene at the hospital, not any international conspiracy.