High Court stresses on need to train students on trigger point, musculo therapies

The division bench comprising Justices N Kirubakaran and Abdul Quddhose recorded the submission that the boy, whose father had sought euthanasia, was being able to sit up and was responding to light and heeding to commands. “Trigger Point Therapy, which has worked wonders on the child who was in a persistent vegetative state, is said to be part of the syllabus prescribed for Physiotherapy course. If most of the physiotherapists are unable to make use of the therapy, it can only be said that either they are unaware of it or lack specialisation.”

Based on this, the bench suo motu impleaded the Medical Council of India (MCI), directing it to inform the super specialty courses available in TPT and MT, and number of experts in India.

Noting that these therapies could help treat children and adults diagnosed with different degrees of brain damage, the bench said, “In case if no such diploma or course is offered, MCI should consider introducing such a course and also get expertise from other countries and train Indian students.”

However, the bench on taking strong exception to the State and Centre failing to respond on the schemes available for providing medical and financial aid to similarly placed children, the bench said, “Final time is granted till November 29 for responding to the suggestions/queries raised by this court, failing which the authorities from both the State and Centre have to appear before this court on that date.”

The bench also recorded the submissions made by the petitioner’s counsel Kavita Rameshwar that like the petitioner’s son Parventhan, there are more than 1,400 children suffering from brain damage in Tiruchy district alone.

In an additional affidavit filed, she said if a survey is conducted, it would help to know the exact number of children affected with brain injury, who need care like that of the petitioner’s son. She also sought the court to consider directives which included holding a detailed study on the incidence of such brain damage disorders and causative factors and collect enough data about the number of children and adults in the State and accordingly formulate schemes to help and rehabilitate the families of such patients along with providing an assistance of Rs 15,000 per month to families or persons affected with brain disorders or children born with brain damage.

This case, seeking euthanasia was the first of its kind after the Supreme court laid down guidelines for it.