The Beijing News
December 26, 2008

A man is suing Beijing's Ditan Hospital for negligence that resulted in his foot being pricked by an HIV-contaminated needle.

The man, whom the newspaper calls Zhang Ming, was visiting a patient in the hospital on March 17 when a needle used to draw blood from a AIDS patient accidentally fell to the floor. It pricked his foot, drawing blood.

Zhang said that the hospital provided him a month's treatment free of charge, but it refused to apologize or compensate him for emotional distress. He's suing for 120,000 yuan.

According to Zhang's lawyer, the anti-virus treatment caused serious side effects, including hair loss and dizziness, and Zhang did not have sex with his wife for half a year.

Recent tests show that Zhang is HIV negative.

Also:
● Three Chinese Navy vessels carrying special forces are on their way to join the international anti-piracy task force patrolling the waters off Somalia.

● The government will extend marriage registration service to Saturdays starting in January, 2009. This doesn't include Saturdays that overlap with state holidays.

● Sanlu will compensate melamine-affected babies for a total of 900 million yuan.

● The front page image is of the aftermath of a fire broke that out at a laundry neighboring Fahua Temple, a historic site in Chongwen District. The fire was soon put out and the temple was not affected.