Five women in Kota, suffering from kidney failure following C-sections, have written to President Droupadi Murmu seeking urgent organ transplants or euthanasia.

Key Takeaways

  • Five women in Kota suffered severe kidney damage following C-sections at a government hospital.
  • The victims allege medical negligence and the administration of counterfeit medicines.
  • The women have appealed to President Droupadi Murmu for emergency transplants or permission for euthanasia.
  • Rajasthan faces a rising crisis in maternal mortality rates, with 18 deaths reported recently.

In a harrowing cry for justice, five new mothers from Kota, Rajasthan, have written a desperate letter to President Droupadi Murmu. The women, who underwent C-sections at the New Medical College in Kota between May 5 and 7, are now battling severe kidney failure. They have issued a chilling ultimatum: provide them with an emergency organ transplant or permit them to undergo euthanasia, as they can no longer endure a life of agony.

Allegations of Medical Negligence

The victims allege that the hospital administration's use of counterfeit medicines during their surgeries led to their catastrophic kidney failure. Currently admitted to the hospital's Super Specialty Block (SSB), these women are tethered to life-support systems and undergo painful dialysis every 48 hours. One victim, Ragini Meena, highlighted the systemic failure, noting that despite approaching the District Collector, the local MP, and the Chief Minister, no relief or justice has been forthcoming.

A Growing Maternal Health Crisis

This tragedy is part of a much larger, alarming trend in Rajasthan. Over the past two months, at least 18 women have died due to childbirth complications, with five deaths occurring at the Kota facility alone. The state has recently witnessed a spike in maternal mortality, including nine deaths in Bhilwara and Banswara last week, casting a dark shadow over the efficacy of the state's healthcare infrastructure.

Complexity of Medical Complications

While Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar has attributed recent deaths to various clinical complications—such as HELLP syndrome, Pulmonary Thromboembolism, and Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH)—the specific allegations in Kota regarding counterfeit medication demand a high-level judicial and medical inquiry. For the families involved, the financial and emotional toll has been devastating, leaving them in a state of absolute hopelessness.