Aruna Shanbaug, who became the face of a debate on euthanasia after being in a vegetative state for more than four decades following her brutal rape in 1973, died in Mumbai’s KEM Hospital on Monday after a bout of pneumonia.
From reports, Shanbaug was a staff nurse at the KEM Hospital when she was attacked by sweeper Sohanlal Bharta Valmiki on the evening of November 27,1973. To immobilise her, he wrapped a dog chain around Shanbaug’s neck and yanked her back with it. Valmiki tried to rape her but sodomised her after finding that she was menstruating.
When Shanbaug was found the next day, doctors realised that her brain was damaged because the chain had cut off the supply of oxygen.
The cortex and some other parts of her brain were damaged. After the brutal assault, Shanbaug – who belonged to Haldipur in Karnataka – did not have many visitors. Even her relatives stopped visiting after some years. Her sister Shanta Nayak, the only relative in Mumbai, died in September 2013.
The KEM Hospital’s nurses had been taking care of her. Nurses and doctors visited her on her birthday on June 1. "No one from her family has visited her," Supe said earlier.
Nurses and doctors who were in contact with Shanbaug said she was not aware of her surroundings but she recognized the presence of people.
In December 2013, Shanbaug was admitted to the hospital's intensive care unit for a lung infection. At the time, her health improved and she was shifted back to the small room near ward number four which had been her home for 42 years.
At the time of the assault, Shanbaug was engaged to Sundeep Sardesai, a resident doctor in the KEM Hospital. Sardesai waited for her to revive for four yearsbut later married and settled abroad
coma Since 1973 ?? that is 42 years in coma hmmm God is great oo R.I.P You have gone to a better place where there is no coma or any diseases
ReplyDeleteWow! 4 decades of coma is too long a time shaaaa! Abeg mk she go rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteMen that's a strong ordeal for her n d family.....rest in peace
ReplyDeleteWat this is crazy ooo 1973 hmmm I no fit shut
ReplyDeleteHmmmmm,ds rape thing dint even start now,it now an epidemic in India, dey shud deal with it, rip nurse
ReplyDeleteMehn !! This is serious wow
ReplyDeleteWow this is incredible.. She has gone to a better place to rest n leave this wicked world
ReplyDelete