Andhra Pradesh couple seek mercy killing of 8-month-old daughter
Toddler is diagnosed with a rare congenital disease and owing to financial crunch, the family is unable to get her treated.
Chittoor: In an agonizing episode, a couple from Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor district moved a local court on Thursday seeking permit for mercy killing of their eight-month-old daughter, who is suffering from a chronic liver disease. Owing to dire financial condition, they cannot get her treated and approached the court for help, according to a news report. However, the court has not rendered a judgement as it lies beyond the its jurisdiction.
Ramanappa, a worker at a grocery store and his wife Saraswati approached a local court, but in vain. Being unable to pay the medical bills owing to utter financial crunch the duo is left with two options, either to kill the baby or to seek help from the state government. The toddler has been diagnosed with a rare congenital disease and needs a liver transplant, which would inevitably act against the couple’s purse string.
“A local doctor diagnosed it as a liver complication and treated the baby. But there was no improvement in her health. We have spent all the money we had. We borrowed money from friends and relatives. We are left with no money now,” lamented poor Ramanappa.
“The entire procedure costs more than Rs 50 lakh. Moreover, the child has to be on medication for at least six years. The monthly medical bill alone comes to about Rs 50,000,” he added.
The local court has asked the couple to approach district level court or Hyderabad High Court.