Public Prosecutor warns that AIDS cases could warrant charges of negligent homicide

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SANTIAGO.- Public Prosecutor Enrique Rodríguez, who is investigating the cases of several HIV-positive patients who were not notified of their condition at the Iquique Hospital in a timely manner, warned today that the incident could constitute charges of negligent homicide if it is proved that those responsible were aware of the infected patients and failed to notify them.

"Normally, the most likely charge than can be foreseen is in relation to negligent homicide if it is proved that someone had certain information indicating the HIV positive status of a patient and failed to carry out the appropriate process to inform the patient of their status and explain to them the treatment options available", Rodriguez stated during an interview with Radio ADN.

Rodriguez added that his "obligations" are not solely tied to investigating the 25 cases of uniformed patients and indicated that proceedings could be prolonged to look into cases up to ten years back.

With regards to the reportedly missing list of patients who were not notified, the public prosecutor stated that the need for the information was "generated by a petition that we made, but they were not personal charts, rather it was a document that contained the systematized information of the 25 patients and that is the sheet that has been reported missing".

Nevertheless, Rodríquez added that the paper has not been lost and attributed is momentary disappearance to "media distortion".