17-year-old cancer patient in Tamil Nadu demands euthanasia

Vellore: After been refused treatment from leading cancer hospitals in Tamil Nadu, a 17-year-old boy suffering from cancer has submitted a petition to Vellore district authorities seeking euthanasia. Shocked by the request, the boy was immediately referred to the Tamil Nadu government multi super-specialty hospital in Chennai.

In his petition, Sakthivel, a resident of Tharapadavedu in Tamil Nadu has said the reason for his demand is due to the poor conditions of his family and their inability to support him. With no major income, he is youngest amongst five of his siblings.

Terminally ill, the boy who is a class 10^th pass out says he started experiencing acute pain throat a year ago and was later diagnosed with ‘Esophageal Cancer’, a rare disease that affects one in 10 lakh.

Earlier, the boy was admitted to a cancer institute in Kancheepuram for four months. However, he was discharged from the hospital suddenly. After this, his family approached several other leading cancer hospitals, but they were turned away saying that there was no treatment for the disease.

Reasponding to the petition, district collector Rajendra Ratnoo said, “I wrote a letter to the authorities at the Tamil Nadu super-specialty hospital in Chennai and referred him there.”

Hospital authorities said, “We have admitted the patient and are taking care of him. A team of oncologists is treating him. Though, he is in a critical stage, steps are being taken to feed him through a food pipe.”