Forget risk, split twins, says parents of conjoined twins Veena and Vani

Hyderabad: Parents of conjoined twins Veena and Vani are insisting the girls must be separated no matter what the risks.

Naga and Maragani Murali, in their letter to Nilofeur Hospital, have asked the government to take the 13-year-old twins to specialist hospitals in the United States, London or Australia and get them separated.

“I have two daughters and I cannot take care of the twins. Niloufer hospital doctors in 2003 promised the girls would be separated. Now, they’re saying they can’t. It’s not fair,” said the girls’ father, Murali.

On June 9 – after experts from New Delhi’s AIIMS said a separation surgery would expose the girls to substantial risks - the parents were asked to take the girls back.

The AIMS report stated that separation of the twins could put the girls in a coma or even leave the two crippled for life. Doctors weren’t even sure they would survive the procedure.

But Murali remains adamant. “Whatever the risk, the government must take the twins and see to their separation.”

Niloufer officials are now waiting for orders “I have forwarded the father’s request to the government and it is for them to decide,” said superintendent of Niloufer hospital Dr Suresh Kumar.

Meanwhile, an NGO has come forward to adopt the girls. Mujtaba Askari, whose non-government organisation has sent proposals to both the hospital and the state government said, “The parents are in no mood to accept them despite being provided a monthly remuneration. So the best way would be to move Veena and Vani to a state home. We will provide the education infrastructure.”