Indore teacher suffering from rare bone disorder seeks President's nod for euthanasia
Indore, Jul 28 (PTI): A 52-year-old government school teacher from Indore, who is suffering from a rare bone disorder that has confined her to a wheelchair, has sought President Droupadi Murmu's consent for euthanasia.
The administration, however, is trying to dissuade her, although she remains steadfast in her demand, an official said.
Euthanasia is the practice of painlessly putting to death a person suffering from painful and incurable disease or incapacitating physical disorder.
Talking to PTI on Monday, Chandrakanta Jethwani, a science teacher at the government primary school in Jabran Colony, said she suffers from osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare genetic disorder that affects bone formation and makes bones extremely fragile.
"I have made an appeal for euthanasia to the President through the media. I have already pledged my eyes and body. I want medical students to study my disease after my death," she said.
Jethwani said she initially used a walker to move around and managed to ride a scooter, but after being allegedly prescribed wrong medication in 2020, her condition deteriorated, and she has since been wheelchair-bound.
She still attends school using a wheelchair.
"My parents and siblings have passed away. I am completely broken, physically and financially," the unmarried teacher said.
Pawan Chauhan, joint director in charge of the social justice department, said, "We have sent a clinical psychologist to counsel the teacher. If required, we will arrange another counselling session."
District project coordinator Vinay Mishra said that the education department has been providing all possible support to Jethwani and has assigned her to a school she can easily access.
Jethwani, however, continues to press for her euthanasia request and has demanded that until she receives the President's approval, the administration should assign a female attendant to care for her 24 hours a day.
"I will never commit suicide. I will wait for a week or two for the President's permission for euthanasia. If I do not receive it, I will stop consuming food and water," she added.
The Supreme Court has recognised the right to die with dignity as a fundamental right, specifically allowing for passive euthanasia under certain conditions.
This includes the option for terminally ill patients to execute a "living will" to refuse medical treatment, particularly if they are in a persistent vegetative state and unable to communicate their wishes.
The apex court laid down guidelines for the process of passive euthanasia, including the formation of medical boards to assess the patient's condition and the validity of their wishes.
In 2023, the Supreme Court modified guidelines to simplify the process for passive euthanasia, making it less cumbersome for patients and families.
These modifications included streamlining the process of withdrawal of life support and reducing the involvement of government officials.
The guidelines mandate a structured process involving medical boards to assess the patient's condition and ensure informed consent from the patient or their designated representatives.
If a medical board denies permission to withdraw life support, the patient's family can appeal to the High Court, which will form a new board to reassess the case.
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Mamata accuses BJP of trying to 'rig' Bengal polls, alleges central forces acting at its behest
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday accused the BJP of trying to "rig" the West Bengal assembly elections, alleging that central forces and election observers were acting at the behest of the saffron party.
The BJP, however, dismissed her allegations, accusing her of "trying to create confusion sensing public anger against the TMC".
Visiting several polling booths in her Bhabanipur assembly constituency where voting is underway, Banerjee alleged that democratic norms have been severely compromised by the authorities this assembly election.
The Bhabanipur assembly segment is Banerjee's political bastion, where she is locked in a prestige battle against Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, in what is being seen as a symbolic rematch of Nandigram, where he had defeated her in the 2021 assembly polls.
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"BJP wants to rig this election," she told reporters.
Stating that elections are held in West Bengal in a peaceful manner, Banerjee asked, "Is there goonda raj here?"
West Bengal has had a tradition of poll-related violence with the Calcutta High Court having ordered CBI investigations into post-poll violence after the 2021 assembly elections.
Alleging that TMC workers and leaders were facing atrocities at the hands of police and CAPF personnel, Banerjee said her party cadres "were ready to die".
The TMC supremo, who usually steps out of her Kalighat residence in the afternoon on polling day to cast her vote at Mitra Institution School, went out before 8 am and visited several polling stations in the constituency, including those in the Chetla area of south Kolkata.
She later sat outside a polling station at Chakraberia in Bhabanipur and spoke to reporters, alleging irregularities and accusing the BJP of trying to influence the polling process through central forces and observers.
"Several observers have come from outside and are acting as per the BJP's directions. People are supposed to cast their votes -- can voting take place like this?" Banerjee said.
She also alleged that all TMC party flags had been removed beforehand and claimed that outsiders were interfering with the polling process.
"They are not allowing the councillor of ward number 70 to step out. They are picking up all our boys. Abhishek and I stayed awake the entire night," she said.
Banerjee further claimed that some people from outside the state were trying to create disturbances in the constituency and sought immediate intervention from the Election Commission.
The BJP, however, dismissed her allegations, claiming that the ruling party was trying to create confusion after sensing public anger against it.
Adhikari said the CM will lose the election.
The LoP offered prayers at two temples in the constituency's Khidirpur area.
Adhikari said people are coming out in large numbers to vote, with the Election Commission making proper arrangements for ensuring free and fair election.
"Does not matter, she will lose," Adhikari told reporters about the TMC chief venturing out on polling day early in the morning in a departure from her practice of going out only in the afternoon to cast her vote.
The party's de facto second-in-command Abhishek Banerjee, on the other hand, asserted that the TMC will win with a higher number of seats than in 2021.
The Diamond Harbour MP, after casting his vote at Mitra Institution, accused the poll observers of highhandedness in different places.
"But these things will not matter, we will win by a higher number of seats this election," he told reporters.
Voting is underway in 142 constituencies in the second and final phase of the West Bengal assembly elections amid unprecedented security arrangements.
Polling began at 7 am with voters lining up outside booths across Kolkata, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Hooghly and Purba Bardhaman -- districts that together form the political and electoral core of the state.
The outcome of this phase is expected to be crucial as it covers south Bengal, considered the TMC's traditional stronghold, where the BJP is seeking major inroads.
Polling will continue till 6 pm.
The first phase of the assembly elections on April 23 had recorded a turnout of 93.19 per cent -- the highest ever in the state.
Counting of votes will take place on May 4.
