Praying for a miracle while preparing for the worst in her hospital bed is all young Asma can do at a time when she should have been busy making the most of life’s best part. It is a most pathetic situation the ill-fated girl is trapped in. Robbed of her only kidney, she is struggling for life while doctors who attended her move around emitting an air that can be described at best as indifference and at worst irresponsibility. Indeed some serious questions loom large over the situation under which Asma was operated upon. A number of doctors whom The Daily Star has interviewed are of the opinion that the removal of Asma's lone kidney was a ’mistake'. But was not this 'mistake' avoidable? Was not there any specialist around whose opinion could be sought before the surgery? Why did the surgeons rush with the operation if they were not sure about what they were doing and its possible consequences? It is a case of gross irresponsibility. Professional ethics demand the buck has to stop with someone: someone has to pay for it.

Also It does not do any good to society's conscience to see a young girl inch to death minute by minute for no fault of her own. It is regrettable that until now doctors have not spelled out against it in a body and shied away from recognising it as an act of untenable irresponsibility on the part of the doctors concerned. Ideally, a body of senior and specialist doctors should nave been there to probe into this Incident. They do it abroad. Why can't our doctors muster enough candour and professionalism to uphold the dignity of their commitment? We would urge the doctors not to hedge over the matter and push for a thorough investigation with the firm resolve to penalise the culprit.