TAMIL NADU, India, July 6, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A mother in the state of Tamil Nadu in India is seeking ‘mercy killing’ for her 14-year-old daughter, Mathumitha, who was born with cerebral palsy. Euthanasia is against the law in India.
The woman stated her desire to euthanize her daughter at a meeting at the Erode District Collectorate in the state of Tamil Nadu.
The family has another daughter and the father works as a carpenter. They receive 1000 rupees from the government every month, but say it is not enough to cover their expenses.
Mathumitha needs to have someone with her at all times to care for her. Her mother, Jaya, has been caring for her for all 14 years of her life.
The family has tried to place her in homes, but so far has been unsuccessful. “We are forced to take this cruel decision, it’s something no parent can ever dream of,” they said.
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The government has told the family that the law says euthanasia is the same as suicide, and both are illegal.
Alex Schadenberg, Executive Director of Euthanasia Prevention Coalition says if the government allows Jaya to euthanize her daughter, it would open the door for anyone to do so.
If they allowed it, “anybody with cerebral palsy or another significant disability would be able to be killed,” Schadenberg told LifeSiteNews.com.
District Collector VK Shanmugam has said the government will try to help the family find a home for their daughter and hopes this will change their mind about euthanizing her.
We “can’t be dehumanizing people and killing them off,” Schadenberg says.