Youngest transfusion victim dies of illness

Compounding the tragedy, one of the three patients who was transfused with HIV infected blood on March twenty-ninth, passed away this morning around eight. According to Chief of Staff John Waight, two month old Andy Meyers Jr. died not of AIDS, but a rare skin disease.

Dr. John Waight, Chief of Staff, K.H.M.H.

“The baby came in, in a very ill or almost moribund state, was intensively treated including blood transfusion. He passed away this morning. After some discussion with the attending pediatrician, it appears that the baby suffered from a very rare condition which is known as ichthyosis, in which you get a desquamation or scaling off of the skin, and I understand of the internal membranes. It’s almost always a fatal condition, I am given to understand, and it is felt that this is what this baby had.”

Ann-Marie Williams

“Did you have an opportunity to speak to the father because he took his story to the radio saying he’s not sure if the baby died of AIDS.”

Dr. John Waight

“Well I didn’t speak with the father at all, the father in fact spoke with the attending pediatricians and with the Chief Executive Officer.”

The child’s father, Andy Meyers Sr., told the press that prior to his son’s death, the hospital never gave him a detailed explanation of how the tainted blood came to be given to his son. He learned of the details only because he understands Spanish and overheard a conversation between a doctor and nurse at baby Andy’s bedside.