Five women with kidney failure after C-section in Kota appeal to President for transplant or euthanasia
Five women at Kota's New Medical College Hospital (NMCH) who developed kidney infections after caesarean deliveries have written to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, requesting permission for euthanasia if they do not receive kidney transplants within 48 hours. The women, who have undergone 32 rounds of dialysis over the past 68 days, are refusing further dialysis unless a transplant is assured.
Family members of the women submitted a memorandum to the President on Wednesday via speed post, following an earlier appeal to district authorities that elicited no response. The women are demanding written assurance for kidney transplants within 48 hours, failing which they say they will stop dialysis and allow themselves to die.
Mohan Lal, whose wife Dhanni Suman has been hospitalized since the first week of May, described her condition. 'She is terrified of the word dialysis now. Within an hour of starting the process, she begins vomiting, shivering violently and has a high fever. She cannot eat anything on those days,' he said.
The families also reported that five other women have died from complications following caesarean deliveries at NMCH and J.K. Lone Hospital. Naresh Aerwal, husband of patient Pinki Aerwal, said their child died shortly after delivery. He criticized the government's response, noting that ₹5 lakh was given to families of deceased women as compensation, while the five surviving women continue to suffer.
NMCH Principal Dr. Nilesh Jain stated that the five women are stable and fit to be discharged, and that they can receive dialysis on an outpatient basis like 80 other patients daily. He said discussing transplants is premature, as patients must be observed for three to six months under acute renal failure before being classified for end-stage renal disease.
Dr. Jain warned that if the women refuse dialysis, toxic waste will accumulate in their bodies, leading to severe health complications. He said the hospital will formally report the matter to the district administration if the women continue to refuse treatment.
Patients like Ragini Meena, 29, are entirely dependent on dialysis. Her brother Vikas said, 'Today, she cannot survive even 24 hours without dialysis. Every 48 hours, she has to undergo the procedure.' Her husband Lokesh lost his job, and the family is borrowing money to cover expenses.
Mohan Lal, a cab driver, sold his taxi to pay for his wife's care. The couple's baby, born on May 8, is being cared for by a relative. Their two other children are with their grandmother.
The Rajasthan government has ordered a probe into the post-delivery complications at Kota hospitals.
