How Indian Doctors, Govt & Air India Saved the Lives of 3 Bangladeshis Begging for Euthanasia

Here’s a story that is certain to restore your faith in humanity. Three boys from Bangladesh who thought that their days were numbered due to a rare genetic disorder are now going to be just fine because of the incredible work done by doctors in Mumbai as well as cooperation from the Union Ministry of External Affairs and Air India.

This is their story.

Image for representation. Photo source

In January, a man called Mohammad Tofazzel Hossen from Bangladesh petitioned to the government to euthanise his two sons and his grandson. That’s because Abdul, 24, Rahinul 14 and Shohrab, 7, who come from a humble background were all suffering from a condition called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) that leads to early death. The family wanted permission from the government to go ahead with euthanasia.

This illness leads to progressive weakness as well as muscle degeneration. Hossen was desperate having sold all his belongings to pay medical bills for his family but all the efforts were in vain as they were getting worse.

The Hindustan Times has quoted him as saying that at that point he felt lost and defeated. Hossen notes, “I had lost all hope. Available medical facilities couldn’t help my children; my life savings were nowhere close to meet the treatment needs for my sons.”

Thankfully that’s when NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute (NBSI), a facility in Navi Mumbai stepped in to offer to treat the three patients completely free of cost. And Air India also offered a helping hand by flying the family down to India at no cost. The Indian government did its part by processing all the documentation of the patients along with their families so they could come to India with no additional hassle.

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NBSI, which treats neurological disorders through stem cell therapy, was able to provide timely medical intervention to all the patients. When they first arrived, the two men and the young kid were all wheelchair-bound but doctors now note that in another six months, all three of them will gain mobility and will be even able to walk.

As Hossen tells the newspaper, “India gave my sons and grandson a new life, something which our doctors or system failed to do.”

Picture credit for feature image: Hindustan Times 

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