Odisha woman petitions Prez seeking mercy killing of critically ill son

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Balasore, Feb 16:

Finding it difficult to foot the treatment expenses of her critically ill son, a distressed woman from Odisha’s Balasore district has appealed to President Pranab Mukherjee to approve euthanasia for her child.

Sitarani Das, a resident of Shyamraipur village under Remuna Block, has appealed to the President to allow her son Biswajit Das (18) to end his life as he is now paralysed and in excruciating pain.

Biswajit suffers from chronic kidney ailment and needs Rs 12 lakh for transplant.

Every week, Biswajit is brought for dialysis to SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack from his native place by his father Khageswar Das. On every visit, the treatment costs around Rs 20, 000-Rs 25, 000 which is very difficult for them to arrange in frequent intervals as they are already neck deep in loans.

The doctors have advised the family to get the kidney transplant done at the earliest.

The organ transplant will cost around Rs 12 lakh which is a herculean task for the family to meet.

In 2015, the family had spent Rs 20 lakh on the treatment by selling their ancestral land and jewellery. They had taken Biswajit to Bengaluru-based Manipal hospital. The doctors had told Khageswar that his son’s right kidney is completely damaged while the left is 40 per cent working.  The doctors had advised for a kidney transplant.

Last year, Biswajit was supposed to join college after passing matriculation. However, his mobility was restricted due to a paralytic attack.

Notably, the teenager has been suffering since he was two. His limbs swelled and his parents treated him in all possible way but to no avail. All medical treatments failed to cure him of unknown disease.

Undeterred, the 1998 born has lived most of his life in painkillers, passed his matriculation exams with good marks.

Now as they see no hope in treatment due to paucity of funds, the parents have appealed to the President to allow mercy killing of Biswajit.

Anyone interested to extend financial help to Biswajit can contact Sitarani Das @ 7894892465