Troubles are mounting for the hapless teenager Kanchan Kumari, battling for life with her two kidneys becoming non-functional even after her father has finally consented to donate one of his kidneys to her after some convincing and counselling by the district magistrate.
Now, the hospital administration does not look serious enough to check the girl’s fast-deteriorating condition. For the past 24 hours, the girl is being shifted from one hospital to another by the authorities citing a lack of beds and the facilities.
After being promised financial aid from the district administration, the family brought Kanchan to Patna on Monday evening for her treatment at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) but the hospital administration didn’t admit the girl citing lack of beds.
For close to three hours, the girl’s cries in pain at the hospital failed to move the IGIMS administration, though the Sheikhpura district magistrate Inayat Khan had sent a written request to the hospital administration to admit the girl.
Eventually, the hospital authorities shifted the girl to a privately-run Magadh Hospital. However, the Magadh Hospital authorities expressed their helplessness to treat the girl, saying they have no facilities for kidney treatment and referred the girl to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH).
Eventually, the girl was shifted to the PMCH but the family is shocked by the behaviour and response of the hospital authorities. “For the past 24 hours, we have moved from one hospital to another but the kind of treatment she requires is yet to be provided,” the girl’s father Ramashraya Yadav told The Statesman.
More shocking was the response of the IGIMS administration. The IGIMS is the only government institute doing kidney transplants in Bihar and it has carried out 54 kidney transplants in the past three years. The IGIMS administration cited different reasons for its refusal to admit the girl.
“The girl had reached the hospital yesterday but all the beds were full then. So, how could we have admitted her? We can’t give treatment on the floor!” hospital superintendent Dr Krishna Gopal told The Statesman on Tuesday.
In a significant development, the girl’s father has now agreed to donate one of his kidneys to his daughter after being counselled by the district magistrate. The man had been called by the district magistrate at her office. “One can stay alive even with one kidney and it will be better if someone from your own family donated a kidney to her. While your kidney will save her life, you too will face no problem,” the DM reportedly advised the man during a meeting yesterday. She also assured to provide financial support to the girl.
In addition to this, help is pouring out from various corners of the country and abroad. Several benevolent people have contacted The Statesman and sought bank details of the girl so that they could provide financial support.