Clinic cheats infertile couples of lakhs of rupees promising them chidren through surogacy

When Don Bosco, a security person nel, and his wife, Sarala Devi, went to Shrusti Global Diagnostic Private Limited, west Bengaluru, in 2007, they were suggested IVF for having a child. “When IVF failed, they suggested surrogacy .

I spent over Rs 5 lakh on the process. We had a baby in 2008, but she showed no development. In 2009 we realized that the baby was suffering from autism,“ Don Bosco said.

Then, Sarala started having the side effects of the treatment. She passed away in 2014. To his shock, a DNA test later showed that his daughter's DNA didn't match with his.

However, Don Bosco, 45, is not alone. At least 23 couples complained to the Karnataka Medical Council (KMC) against Shrusti in February . A public outburst led to the government closing down Shrusti on March 27 for cheating couples and women willing to rent their womb. Its sister concern, Base fertility medical science research centre, was also closed down.

Earlier, Gurumurthy , proprietor of Shrusti Global Diagnostic Pvt ltd and Fertility Medical Research Pvt Ltd, was arrested in 2014 based on Don Bosco's complaint, which he lodged after a long battle. “After my wife's death, I wanted to lodge a police complaint. But several police stations refused to register a case. Finally , I approached the women and child welfare department, which intervened and helped in filing a police complaint,“ he told TOI. Shrusti is registered under the Karnataka private medical establishment authority .

The closure notice was issued on March 17, based on suggestions from a committee set up to look into the complaint lodged by a techie (See box) with the KMC.

When TOI visited the Shrusti centre last week, its nameplate had been removed. A bhel puri seller in front of the centre said many people still coming looking for the centre. “Every day, many people come and ask me about the hospital. But I don't know much. I only know that it is closed,“ he said.

The closure also has its side effects, leaving in the lurch women who are carry ing babies of childless couples who have paid to Shrusti.

“It's a very complicated case. The in vestigation is still on. There are many pregnant women and couples involved in this,“ said Dr Rajini M, district health officer who ordered closure of the centre's main office in Basaveshwaranagar.

However, Shrusti's branches continue to function in other parts of the city. “It's a big scam. Gurumurthy runs over 12 centres across the city .The government has to investigate all those. There are many surrogate mothers and egg donors who have not been paid by Shrusti.,“ says N Nagesh, an RTI activist fighting for the rights of couples allegedly cheated by Shrusti.

“Closing down one centre does not help. The government has to shut down all the branches of Shrusti so that more people are not trapped in this racket,'' Nagesh added.

Treatment without gynaecologist

A 37-year-old techie from Yelahanka went to Shrusti in 2014 after hearing about Gurumurthy's claim of 100 percent cure for infertility.

“We took treatment for over six months, during which not a single doctor tested us. Only an ayurvedic doctor met us. Gurumurthy suggested that we take up Rs 5 lakh package. He reduced the charges to Rs 3.5 lakh.

However, none of his bills had any number. Everything was fishy. Imagine an infertility treatment centre without a gyneacologist. Later, without any tests, I was told that I was suffering from TB. That's when we started doubting. By then it had also affected my wife's health. The medicines given to all those who went there were the same. I finally lodged a complaint with the Karnataka medical council,“ the complainant told TOI.

Times view

I n the absence of a comprehensive law, corrupt fertility clinics cheat couples who want a baby. The bigger racket is surrogacy, involving poor women from rural areas who rent their wombs. As most surrogate mothers are not aware of their rights, they bear the brunt if the agreement between the clinic and a couple goes awry or as in this case, the clinic is shut down by the government. Besides inspecting and regulating all clinics offering surrogacy, the government must bring in stringent measures to make surrogacy a sweet deal for all, instead of a harrowing experience.