Jaslok, Hinduja hospitals continue to treat two victims of 2005 train blasts, who are still in coma, saying it's their responsibility
Jaslok, Hinduja hospitals continue to treat two victims of 2005 train blasts, who are still in coma, saying it's their responsibility
Even though neurologically disabled patients remain at hospitals with little hope for improvement, let alone complete recovery, they continue to be the responsibility of institutions struggling to make ends with limited beds, a stretched workforce and the growing burden of patients.
No facilities
In Sunday MiD DAY (Should Aruna die? March 29), we revisited the story of 62-year-old nurse Aruna Shanbaug who was raped 36 years ago and to this day lies in a vegetative state at KEM hospital where she was employed.
Dr Gustad Davar, director of medical services at P D Hinduja Hospital that is home to 7/11 serial train blasts victim Parag Sawant (29), bemoans the lack of rehabilitation infrastructure in the city.
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There is also the option of home care though this requires regular attendance by a doctor, a physiotherapist, a consultant and a nurse," said Davar.
He, however, added that this was far from the present state of affairs in the city.
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"Families would like to give the best neuro rehabilitation to their loved ones and the care of these patients include several factors like ensuring that there are no bed sores or the joints don't remain stiff.
Until more centres spring up, Parag will continue to remain with us."
Mounting expenses
The bills for Parag and the other 7/11 victim Amit Singh (23), who is at Jaslok Hospital, continue to be paid by the Indian Railways. But there are other expenses too.
Amit's father Dinesh and his mother travel daily from Virar to Jaslok Hospital on Peddar Road where they spend over eight hours with him daily.
Eating out, travelling and spending on their son forces the Singhs to spend anything between Rs 700-Rs 1,000 every day.
"Where is this money going to come from?" asks an irate Dinesh who also works with the Railways. "Our children have been forgotten with 26/11 upon us. We are victims of a lesser act."
'We'll keep him alive'
However Jaslok Hospital CEO Col M Masand maintains that he will continue to treat Amit.
"Is it a challenge for my hospital? It would only be a challenge if I wanted that bed cleared so that I could earn from another patient who occupied it. But I am ethically bound to save lives.
Amit was declared brain dead even by foreign experts, but as long as his parents want to keep him here, we will not shift him," said Masand.
Terri Schiavo Case
This was a case that had divided America in 2005. Terri Schiavo, who had collapsed after a heart attack in 1990, was diagnosed as being in a persistent vegetative state.
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In 1998, her husband Michael petitioned for her feeding tube to be removed, but Terri's parents objected. They were supported by several politicians and pro-life groups.
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Even then president George W Bush had signed a legislation designed to keep Terri alive. But Terri's life support was withdrawn after a Florida court's order. She died in 2005, after 15 years of institutionalisation.
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