Aged woman turns to court, for mercy killing of vegetative son

Poverty has forced a woman from Andhra Pradesh to seek euthanasia for her son, incapacitated for the past 14 years.

K. Lakshmamma, 64, mother of an engineer who became vegetated after he met with an accident, has sought the permission of a Madanapalle court to put an end to her son's life. The judge has posted her case for March 3.

Following media reports of her agony, Chittoor Collector Solomon Arokiaraj has directed Madanapalle Sub-Collector Vinay Chand to extend medical and monetary assistance to the family.

Janardhan, 36, of Danduvaripalle in Madanapalle rural mandal, studied aeronautical engineering in Bangalore and secured placement in an Australian firm in 1997. But unfortunately, while he was going to Bangalore to have his visa application processed, he was knocked down by a speeding lorry. The accident left him totally debilitated.

While his father K. Ramachandraiah died of the trauma in 2001, his mother has been taking care of him single-handedly. With medical reports suggesting that Janardhan was getting irrecoverably paralysed, his vexed mother finally knocked on the doors of the judiciary. On Monday, she took everyone by surprise when she entered the court and asked Second Additional District Magistrate Suma Latha to give her and her son permission to die. Pushed to penury and misery, Ms. Lakshmamma sought permission for administering euthanasia to her son.

“We have not received any direction regarding the mercy killing plea, but we will call on Lakshmamma on Thursday to find out her requirements,” Mr. Vinay Chand told

The Hindu .

It is learnt that the government extended Janardhan monetary aid in the past too, while the Madanapalle Area Hospital reportedly expressed its inability to treat him and advised Lakshmamma to take him to Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences in Tirupati.