AK Hangal taken off life support on his orders

AK Hangal taken off life support on his orders

Veteran actor Avtar Kishan Hangal, popularly known as AK Hangal, is fighting for his life in Santa Cruz’s Asha Parekh hospital for the past week. Hangal was on life support but his son Vijay asked doctors to take him off the machine. As a result, the 98-year-old’s health has deteriorated over the past two days. “I don’t want my father to suffer any more. It was his wish that he be allowed to die peacefully. I had told the doctors in the beginning itself not to put him on ventilator. Even then they put him on it for three days. But later they themselves realised that he wasn’t responding to treatment,” said Vijay. Hangal had become very restless when he was put on ventilator and had tried to remove the oxygen pipe. Two years back, he was in the news over his poor financial condition and deteriorating health after which political parties and others had offered help. Fashion designer Riyaz Gangji has been trying to convince Vijay to allow doctors to put him back on the ventilator. “Without Vijay’s signature and permission doctors can’t put Hangal sahab back on life support. I have even offered to pay for his treatment,” Gangji said. Hangal was admitted to hospital on August 16 after he fell in his house and fractured his right femur. “Initially, he was responding to the treatment, but soon, his health started deteriorating. We put him on life support for three days. However, now he has been taken off it as per his son’s wish and also because he has several health issues,” said resident medical officer Sandeep Salve. The actor has trouble breathing and a history of lung disease, kidney problems and tuberculosis. Hangal had also wished to donate his organs, but doctors say they aren’t in the proper condition. “Doctors have told us that only his eyes can be donated, but we didn’t take the care which is necessary if you want to donate organs,” said Vijay.