Abdul Rahim has sought euthanasia or mercy killing for three of his sons suffering from thalassemia, a blood disease. Reason: he has spent his resources and lost his will to carry on after fighting for 16 years.
Rahim, 51, ran a shoe shop and a factory in Meghalaya capital Shillong. He sold his business few years ago to fund the treatment for sons Sadik, 16, Suheil, 14, and Mohammed Samim, 9. All are suffering from thalassemia, a form of inherited autosomal recessive blood disorder that is caused by the weakening and destruction of red blood cells in the body.
“Doctors say they won’t live long unless they undergo treatment at Vellore (Christian Medical College), costing Rs 35lakh per child. The alternative is blood transfusion, and I have nothing left to spend Rs 45,000 a month for this. I appeal to the judiciary to allow mercy deaths for them so that they are not made to suffer for lack of treatment,” the distraught Rahim said.
Rahim, who went from Nagaon district of Assam to set up his shoemaking business in Shillong 35 years ago, said the Assam Thalassemia Society had supported him for a brief period. “It has stopped, and even I cannot give them my blood after donating 15 times,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}Rahim, who went from Nagaon district of Assam to set up his shoemaking business in Shillong 35 years ago, said the Assam Thalassemia Society had supported him for a brief period. “It has stopped, and even I cannot give them my blood after donating 15 times,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}He added that he had tried all forms of treatment from ayurvedic to Tibetan to cure his sons but in vain.