A Nigerian doctor has shared a terrifying experience involving a patient diagnosed with HIV at a general hospital in Lagos, sparking shock and debate online.
The incident, recounted by Dr. @silverpenydr on X (formerly Twitter), began when a female patient tested positive for HIV during her hospital admission. As the doctor responsible for delivering her results, he described how the patient became emotional, broke down in tears, and questioned the accuracy of the test. She reportedly requested a second test to confirm the result.
“In an effort to reassure her, I approved a repeat HIV test,” the doctor explained. “Two days later, the new result confirmed the initial diagnosis.”
During his routine ward rounds, the doctor approached the patient again to explain the outcome and offer reassurance. But what happened next left him shaken.
“While I stood beside her documenting her notes, she suddenly pulled out a needle and attempted to stab me,” he revealed. Thankfully, the thick ward coat he was wearing prevented any injury or exposure.
He immediately escalated the situation to the Head of Department, and the patient was discharged the same day. Despite avoiding a direct injury, the doctor had to begin HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which he said came with challenging side effects.
“This incident still haunts me,” he wrote. “Why would someone want to deliberately infect another person with HIV?”
The story has drawn widespread attention online, highlighting the unpredictable challenges healthcare workers can face while performing their duties, and the importance of safety protocols in hospitals.
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Published by Ejoh Caleb
