"Every year, thousands of parents in Tamil Nadu, who have children born with defective hearts, are confronted with a tough choice: to spend over Rs.1 lakh for a corrective surgery or to let the child die. Many choose the latter course.." says Feroze Ahmed in The Hindu.

This article, in the wake of the hype over the Pakistani child Noor Fathima and her surgery at a Bangalore hospital, makes one think.

What price is a new-born Indian's life? It is reported that a minimum of 1 lakh Rupees would be required - perhaps even more - to rectify congenital heart conditions diagnosed in new-born Indian children.

This figure leaves many an Indian parent fazed. With disastrous results. Parents opt to let their children die. Truly a bizarre condition of the heart.

Why do parents take this apparently heartless decision? Financial constraints are the obvious reason. They cannot or will not find the means to go through with the procedures necessary to save the child. They are reluctant to sell their possessions. Or they have no possessions to sell. Morally speaking, is this right or wrong? Who can say?

Statistics say that out of 20 children detected with a fatal heart condition, only 2 undergo surgery. The other 18 are allowed to take whatever course Nature has in store for them. Why? Do only 2 out of 20 parents have parental instincts? Are the rest heartless?

What then is going wrong here? For something certainly is. Because, given a chance, these other children would have grown up to be productive and responsible 'normal' healthy adults. Who decides their fate and mortality? On what basis? Can the man or woman next door help in this situation? How many of us respond to appeals from hospitals to help save a life?

Has anybody any answers? Do write in.

Suma Sivagaminathan

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