Four-legged baby awaits parental consent
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.