Pulling The Plug: Acid victim goes home for want of ventilator expense

GUJRANWALA:

A woman who was burnt by her husband a few weeks back was taken back home after her family could no longer afford her hospital bills.

The hospital officials said that the girl was in critical condition but the family could no longer pay for her to remain in the hospital.  Awan Chowk resident Fazilat Bibi was burnt by her husband 20 days ago, after her children quarreled with her sister-in-law’s children over a game of cricket.

Fazilat’s husband Mushtaq threw acid on her and left her outside the Lahore General Hospital. Fazilat Bibi’s brother Saifullah said they had taken their sister back home after they ran out of money, because doctors had said she was terminal. “She has suffered 90 per cent burn wounds but still survived.

She was on a ventilator but we can no longer afford to keep her on it,” Saifullah said.

Fazila Bibi has been brought home where her family will take care of her.  The woman’s husband and brother have been arrested.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2011.