‘I Need My Money’ – HIV-Infected Nurse Still Awaiting Funds, Even After State
“I’ve known only suffering these past few years, and I didn’t call it down on myself. I was only doing my job.” This is the plight of Lydia James*, a nurse and mother of five who has been living with HIV since September 2007 when she was stuck in her buttocks by an HIV/AIDS patient on a ward at a hospital in central Jamaica.
“My health is declining, and I haven’t been to my doctor in over two years because I can’t afford the fees. The last time I went in 2016, my bill was $16,000, and I could hardly find it to pay her, and she doesn’t accept health cards. So I can’t buy any medication. I can’t do anything. I am suffering at the hands of what happened to me,” a heartbroken James stated.
A judgment of $39 million was handed down in April this year but is currently being appealed. However, to compound the woman’s agony, she is now learning that almost two months ago, the Ministry of Justice authorised an interim payment of $10 million, which she has not yet received, and up to yesterday afternoon, her lawyer had not said when she would be paid.
James contacted The Gleaner in September, more than three years after her story was first published by this newspaper, and sought to make it public that she still had not been paid.
But documents obtained by The Gleaner showed that the $10 million interim payment had been sent to an account held by Dixon and Associates Legal Practice on August 28.
Furthermore, Justice Minister Delroy Chuck confirmed to The Gleaner that the Government had no outstanding debts for judgment awards.
“The last time I spoke with my lawyer was September 24, 2018, five months after the judgment was handed down. I never heard a word from her in between that time. When she called me, I told her I was reaching out to The Gleaner to get help because I’m suffering, and she keeps on telling me to hold on. So I’ve reached a stage in my life where I am giving up on her,” she said.
“I need the money to be able to do my treatment so I can support my children. I have to live for them.”
James said she was also in dire need of three stem-cell therapy procedures to slow down the virus in her system. She said that in 2015, one treatment cost roughly $260,000. She further stated that her attorney had advised her against speaking to the media and deposited $300,000 to her account on September 28 for her to begin her treatment.
Efforts to get an explanation from James’ attorney, Khadine Dixon, have so far been unsuccessful. Dixon told The Gleaner that she was in dialogue with the Office of the Attorney General regarding the matter.
“I just need the money. My kids will be here after I’ve passed and I cannot help them to further themselves, their education, with the current state of my health. I just need to close this chapter. I didn’t call this down on myself. I didn’t go to a supermarket and buy it. I was just doing my job,” James said.
* Name changed on request.
SEE HIV HORROR
SYM lawyer gyal , it’s clear to see what’s at play here as Wutliss as the government is morewhile!Report her to the General Legal Council mi poor Nurse!Yo Dem tings ya a wickedness!!
a the liar have the money that was already paid out. sorry. i mean the lawyer.
The lawyer gal is a wicked just like most a Di lawyer dem a jamaica, this little stinking Cratches gal a wait fi Di lady dead fi collect har pickney dem inheritance, that’s why when some a unnu a get gun shot unda unnu pusci nuh body nuh fi business. Lady the first money yuh get yuh pay some gun man as insurance and if shi nuh forward all a yuh money done har bc dem too wicked man!
WOW THAT’S JUST UNDER $75,000. US DOLLARS. MY HEART GOES OUT TO THIS WOMAN. WHAT A WICKED LAWYER SHE NEEDS TO DISBARRED.
My God, my heart goes out to you Nurse, BIG sigh. Can people be so cruel? Nurse keeping making noise, keep going to the media. You need to go down to her office once a week until you get your money. Contact her superior and the legal board until you get your money. The lawyer aka devil is a wicked f#@ka
Jamaican government nuh like pay out lawsuits. Mi tired fi see people go through this. Dem rule in your favor n still nuh pay u. That is why the country can’t better. But dem have money fi do big grand gala n other wasted expenses but not fi settle dem debt to its citizens. Sick stomach
This is so sad. The government need to do better. Jamaica is already suffering from lack of healthcare workers, and stories such as these will only cause a further decline.
Without a good healthcare system, the economy will dwindle even further.
Perhaps that is the perspective they need to focus on true they love so much money kmt!
Her lawyers robbing her not the government. How could they really do her like that. These Jamaican lawyers looking real f**ked up these days
Thank you for the correction.
Hope the AG Office see this and fix the Lawyer IF the interim payment of $10m was made.
Oh God
Nubody nuh connect d dots dem yet I see….Jeroooome !
So sad
The lawyer probably did this on contingency which means she is entitled to 1/3 and she has only had the money a few weeks. So the lady will end up with 6.6 million and honesty the lawyer has not yet done anything wrong.