Agra: Distraught parents want euthanasia for their 6 children suffering from rare genetic disorder

Agra, June 4: In a heart breaking incident, a distraught couple in Agra has sought to be granted euthanasia for their six of eight children, aged between 8 to 18 years, who are suffering from rare neuro disorder.

42-year-old Mohd Nazir, a sweet shop owner in Bada Ghalibpura has decided to write to President Pranab Mukherjee seeking euthanasia or mercy killing for his six children- five sons and a daughter. Only his eldest son Kuber and the youngest daughter are leading normal lives, like other children. [Allow mercy killing for sick daughter: Parents to President]

He said that he took the extreme step when he found it unaffordable to bear the medical treatment expanses. [Aruna Shanbaug: The debate over active and passive euthanasia]

The rare disease from which his children are suffering is known as Canavan. It is a disease wherein the growth of children is developmentally delayed and over time the patient suffers seizures and becomes paralysed. [SC favours decriminalisation of suicide attempt]

While talking to a news channel, Nazir was quoted saying as, "I am tired of taking care of my children. I'm a normal sweet shop owner, there's only so much I can do for them. That is when I decided to write to the President of India, pleading euthanasia for my children." [Supreme Court gives green signal to passive euthanasia in UTs]

Meanwhile Nazir is also hopeful that if not euthanasia, then President may grant financial assistance to him, to go ahead with his children's treatment. [Law on passive euthanasia is need of hour]

His wife Tabassum who has lost all hope, was quoted saying as, "My kids want a normal life. They want to be a part of festivities too but because of their condition, they can't."

The children have already been treated at AIIMS in Delhi and their report concluded that their bodies were getting weaker as their age progressed.

Rajesh Srivastava, Additional District Magistrate of Agra, told NDTV, "CMO officials did visit the family. They are getting their Aadhar card and BPL card made and will soon give them the required help."

OneIndia News