An Indian father whose 15-year-old conjoined twin daughters are living in increasing agony has pleaded for help – or for them to be allowed to die. Saba and Farah Shakeel are joined at the skull and have been suffering terrible headaches, joint pain and slurred speech as they grow older.
The girls have received specialist help in the past, thanks to the intervention of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, but their father, Mohammed, who works on a tea stall in Patna, cannot afford any more treatment. His wage of just £65 a month is used up supporting his family of eight.
Mr Shakeel describes his daughters' condition as so miserable that the Indian government should allow doctors to carry out a mercy killing. Five years ago Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed paid for the girls to visit some of the foremost conjoined twin specialists, including American Benjamin Carson, to investigate ways of separating them.
At that time the girls were in much better spirits and health. They could only move in a crab-like fashion, but
enjoyed playing board games and watching Bollywood films. Mr Shakeel was told that the girls would require up to six operations to separate them, each carrying a one in five chance that one of them would not survive. He decided not to take the risk, despite the Crown Prince's offer to pay.
0 comments:
Post a Comment