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Medical Malpractice Lawsuit: Woman Told She Had HIV At Harlem Hospital

A woman is suing the city after a hospital told her that she was terminally ill with HIV, herpes, and hepatitis. The medical malpractice claim was filed in New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan last week. The New York Post reports that 54-year-old Maria Osorio went to Harlem Hospital for a $15 mammogram and was asked if she also wanted a free blood test to check for other problems. Osorio was told soon after the tests that she was infected and would soon die.

Soon after, the woman, a Columbian immigrant, turned against her husband Gabriel. She accused him of cheating, stopped going to work, moved out of the bedroom, and contemplated suicide. When she called the hospital back, they told her that there had not been a mistake despite the fact that she felt perfectly healthy. In fact, they told her that her disease was very advanced and serious.

However, weeks after that, the hospital called to say they made a mistake – although they did not apologize. By this time, Maria had suffered severe emotional damaged, possibly irreversible marital damage, and lost wages. Both her and her husband also became addicted to sleeping pills while trying to survive the news that Maria had HIV and that Gabriel had been unfaithful.

"My partner has been destroyed emotionally," Gabriel said of the medical malpractice suit. New York City officials did not comment on the case.

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