Dec.17 2009
J. Venkatesan
After she was strangled, nurse has been in vegetative state
No possibility of improvement in Aruna’s condition
Mashed food is being given to keep her alive
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Centre, the Maharashtra government and a private hospital in Mumbai on a writ petition, filed by a patient lying in bed for 36 years in a vegetative state, for mercy killing by stopping mashed food.
The petition was filed by Aruna Ramachandra Shanbaug through her friend Pinki Virani of Mumbai.
According to her, Aruna has been in a pathetic state in the hospital since November 1973. When she was working as staff nurse, she was assaulted and strangled by a sweeper with a dog chain to immobilise her. Her brain cells got damaged and since then she has been in a vegetative state. Her bones became brittle, wrists were twisted inwards, and fingers bent at the joints and fisted into the palms. Her teeth have decayed. Mashed food is being administered through the throat to keep her alive.
There is no possibility of any improvement in Aruna’s condition, and her continued vegetative existence is a violation of her right to live in dignity, says the petition.
Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justices A.K. Ganguly and B.S. Chauhan were on the Bench which issued the notice.
http://www.thehindu.com/2009/12/17/stories/2009121758112000.htm
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The write up is quite brief and superficial, however adjectives like vegetative and pathetic state tend to linger on the reader's mind. Though it may sound cliched the fact is obvious that the ramification of issuing this notice have not been discussed. According to me the writers shows no sensitivity to Aruna and very coldly justs states the facts.
ReplyDelete-Deborah
i agree she is in very pathetic situation these kind of cases we found rarely.what about the people who are suffering with fluoride in many districts in Andhra Pradesh, what about the people who are suffering with dangerous diseases like anthrax in agency areas. generations and generations are affecting with these kind of diseases why most of the reporter are not giving that much of interest on reporting the issues. they always give much priority to urban areas.
ReplyDeletesekhar.k
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ReplyDeleteIts quite a pathetic to learn a human being lives in a massed food for the past 36years without having a much limelight about the facts to the societies. My mind has come across when I learnt about her, what would be the situation if would be in one big shots or any of the them so called... The beginning of the article itself trying to say that doing a favor for someone other than figure it out the what could be the best way to deal.
ReplyDeleteLeening
Good to see, you've begun using the blog. Please post articles of your interest on the blog, as authors, and analyze them in terms of the frames they use and the manner in which scientific research is presented/ debated in the media. Do look up the Terri Schiavo coverage in US and international media a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteTerri Schiavo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terri_Schiavo_case
ReplyDeleteFlourosis in Nalagonda
http://www.1h2o.org/index.php/dev_site/featured_story/india2/
the article is very direct in its approach, it only talks about the petition filed by the patient. when the frame is taken into account, i think the aspect of human interest is lacking, people would like to know more details of the patient. also the further story after the petition should come into the light.
ReplyDeletethe courts should work more efficiently, without delaying the process of giving the correct verdict.
P.Pallavi
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ReplyDeleteAruna’s Pathetic Condition is given as the reason why she is seeking mercy killing but we all know that there are many other reasons too which overburdens the patient. The existing high-priced medical treatment and inability to afford proper treatment are serious issues that needed to be debated upon . In my view factors like these play an important role in one’s decision to die or live.
ReplyDeleteJayanti Karki Chhetri
Mercy killing is the main focus no matter what and how much she confronted.though the article is brief and small, some words used to do reveal complexity of the case, but not the complete insight and details of the struggle and pain and here she comes on all small screens once for all only one reason "Mercy killing!!!" thats very rare case where as our courts do not encourage mercy killing. she is living almost lifeless only with oxygen and food pumped in and out so artificially. Hope there are better ways.
ReplyDelete