The family of a deceased teenage HIV-carrier filed a lawsuit against two hospitals last Thursday in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, according to the local court.

Li Youyou, from East China's Anhui Province, went to the No 159 Hospital in the city of Zhumadian, central China's Henan Province, on September 7, 1996, for an operation after he was severely burnt by hot water.

The 3-year-old boy was given seven blood transfusions, totalling 800 millilitres, over the following three days due to a low blood platelet count.

Nine years later, the boy started to suffer from a recurrent fever and coughing. He was admitted to Yangzhou Municipal People's Hospital for several days in January and September of 2005.

On September 10, 2005, he was confirmed HIV positive by the Yangzhou Municipal People's Hospital and the boy was discharged on September 27.

The boy died on December 28, 2005.

As both his parents were tested to be HIV-negative, Li's family believe the boy was infected by the blood transfusions of either the No 159 Hospital or Yangzhou's Municipal People's Hospital, the only two hospitals the boy visited during his life.

Li's family sued the two hospitals at Guangling District People's Court in Yangzhou last week, demanding 470,000 yuan (US$59,000) in compensation.

Sources from the court said the case has already been filed and the first hearing of the case will be held in two weeks.

Wang Zhong, Li Youyou's lawyer with the Yangzhou-based Lihua Law Firm, said that he is prepared for possible difficulties during the case.

But Wang said he was confident of winning the case as he has already acquired decisive proof against one of the hospitals, declining to reveal any further details.

"Anyway, I am quite confident that the poor family will get their compensation," said Wang.

Wang is fighting the case without charge, as Li's parents are both impoverished migrant workers.

(China Daily March 4, 2006)