Four-legged baby awaits parental consent
Leony Aurora, Jakarta
Doctors at Cipto Mangunkusumo general hospital (RSCM), Central Jakarta, await consent from the parents of Ani, a four-legged baby from East Kalimantan, to carry out more complex tests necessary to determine further action.
Coordinator of public services at the hospital's children ward Harry Purwanto said on Monday that the hospital had carried out preliminary tests, including heart echo, thorax picture and ultrasonography (USG).
"We need consent for a CT-scan, as it will involve anesthetization and the baby may suffer from shock," he said. The CT-scan is necessary to evaluate the functions of the internal organs.
From the initial tests, the doctors have found problems in the functioning of the baby girl's kidneys, a minor leak in a heart valve and the possibility of hernia, caused by bumps in the groin area.
The three-month-old infant is also suspected of having a connected urethra and rectum.
At the moment, said Purwanto, the baby's vital signs were normal, although she still had a fever, which was probably caused by an infection in the connection between the urethra and rectum.
Ani, born on Feb. 12 in the village of Kasai, Berau regency, East Kalimantan, has four legs, no hard palate in the mouth and two female genitals. She was brought to Jakarta on May 3 by a representative of the Agency for Health Law (LBHK) after the Abdu Rivai hospital referred her to RSCM, which has greater experience in treating babies with multiple congenital anomalies.
Her parents, 43-year-old fisherman Mustari, and Asnawiah, who is 20 years old and has impaired hearing, have been unable to accompany Ani due to financial constraints.
LBHK activist Elang Oasis told The Jakarta Post that the non- governmental organization was trying through its network to obtain permission from the baby's parents. "We will obtain the letter as soon as possible," he said, but declined to say when precisely.
Such permission had already been given by Ani's parents to the regional hospital but, according to the standard procedure, a new permit is needed if she is transferred to another hospital.
Elang further explained that LBHK would try to raise the funds necessary to bring a family member to Jakarta to stay by Ani's side. "Several regional council members have shown interest in her case," he said.
Purwanto gave an assurance that all medical bills would be covered by the government. "The requisite documentation, to confirm that Ani comes from a poor family, has already been submitted," he said.