The euthanasia appeal of ailing Gunanidhi Kheti, 47, of Mahulpali village in Bheden block under Bargarh district of western Odisha has forced the state government spring into action and shift him to V.S.S. Institute of Medical Science & Research, Burla for further treatment.
Kheti, who is suspected to be suffering from a neurological problem and has been bedridden for a year, had written to the President of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on July 13, seeking permission for euthanasia as he had lost all hope for recovery. His plight had grabbed statewide media attention.
The ailment has devastated Kheti and his family as he mortgaged his 2.5 acres of farmland for treatment. In 2016 October, he had gone for operation at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, spending Rs 3 lakh. Before that, he had undergone treatment in local government hospitals, but in vain. A spine operation too could not improve his condition. His family consists his wife, two-year-old daughter and disabled mother.
Distraught, Kheti, who used to work as a private school teacher sought permission to die. He also used to have a small grocery shop in the village which has been closed now.
After his euthanasia appeal grabbed headlines, the district administration sent a team of doctors to his home and local MLA Snehangini Chhuria, who is also a minister in the Patnaik government, visited him. The district Red Cross offered him Rs 20,000 in two instalments.
District collector K. Padhi expressed hopes that Kheti would recover soon and said the patient's mother will be offered old age pension.
Kheti’s wife Kalpana said she will never agree with her husband’s decision to seek euthanasia and urged the government to offer assistance to treat him.
Chief district medical officer (CDM) of Bargarh Prakash Pradhan said Kheti needs physiotherapy and added that full recovery will take time. The government is offering medicines required free of coast, he said.
The CDM said if needed, Kheti will be shifted to Bhubaneswar, adding that government’s special treatment fund would take care of the treatment expenses.
The government decision to shift Kheti to Burla Medical College has offered a ray of hope to the family. He too said he is hopeful that the doctors would be able to cure him.
However, when asked if he would withdraw his appeal for euthanasia, Kheti said he will consider it only after total recovery.
