‘I am focussing on each minute now’

Mariam’s father was forced to shift her from the hospital

Two days after Mariam Kouser, who suffered brain damage owing to alleged medical negligence in December last year, was discharged from a city hospital, she lays in a room in her uncle’s house in Hoskote.

The room is similar to a hospital room with a pulse reading machine, nebuliser and oxygen cylinders by her side. After spending 257 days shuttling between hospitals, four-and-a-half-year-old Mariam’s father, Mudassir Pasha, was forced to move her out of the hospital owing to financial constraints.

Asked about his future plans, Mr. Pasha says, “This morning when I went to pray for her, she had a breathing problem. Who knows about the future? I am focusing on each minute now.”

Even though there is uncertainty about Mariam’s health, Mr. Pasha says he had no option but to shift her as her condition did not improve despite being in the hospital for over eight-and-half months. Even after mobilising Rs. 13.8 lakh through individual contributions, Mr. Pasha took loans, sold their jewellery and house to pay off another Rs. 12 lakh.

“In spite of spending so much money, her condition has remained the same. She is still unconscious and not responding to any treatment, despite two surgeries.”

Circumstances have forced her father, who runs an air-conditioner business, to learn how the equipment works. “We spent Rs. 50,000 and got this equipment to monitor her condition. If her condition worsens, then we have to take her to the hospital,” he says. He also says that he refused to accept the government’s tokenism of Rs. 2 lakh.

The family has also moved the Karnataka Medical Council to remove from the rolls the doctors involved in the alleged medical negligence at the Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Trauma and Orthopaedics. It has also approached the consumer court.

Sudarshan Ballal, Medical Director of Manipal Hospital said that all her organs other than her brain were fine. “She is breathing on her own, but is unconscious and is in a persistent vegetative state. She will have to come for frequent medical check-ups. We have even waived a portion of her medical expenses.”

Meanwhile, Health Minister U.T. Khader said that he was open to negotiating with the family. “I have done my best and invited them to come along with me to plead with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for help.” He also said the government could provide treatment in any government hospital.

But Mr. Pasha said, “The medical negligence occurred in a government hospital. How can the Minister take me back to such hospitals?”

Based on the report given by Geetha Nyamegowdar, Director, Health and Family Welfare Department, the services of two doctors were terminated, while two other doctors were suspended in January on the charge of medical negligence.