After months of speculation about the treatment given to former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, the Tamil Nadu government finally released a treatment summary from the hospital, along with detailed reports submitted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences team that was involved as consultants.
In a statement, Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan listed the sequence of events from the night of September 22 when Apollo Hospitals received a call from Poes Garden and despatched an ambulance.
He added that medical practitioners were not bound to reveal details related to patients, but given the need to put at rest speculation relating to the circumstances surrounding the hospitalisation, treatment and demise of the former Chief Minister, the “government has decided to make public the discharge summary received from Apollo and the reports received from AIIMS.”
The statement said that when the ambulance reached Poes Garden, the medical personnel found Jayalalithaa breathless and drowsy.
Jayalalithaa interacted with family, says report
According to the statement released by Health Secretary Radhakrishnan on the treatment administered to former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, when the ambulance reached Poes Garden at 10 p.m. on September 22, 2016, the medical personnel found Jayalalithaa breathless and drowsy.
She was immediately rushed to Apollo Hospitals where she was admitted.
“On evaluation,” the release said, “the late Chief Minister was diagnosed to be suffering from infection and dehydration, accompanied by respiratory distress.”
Her past history of uncontrolled diabetes, blood pressure, bronchitis and hypothyroidism were all recorded, but there was no mention of trauma to the patient, in an apparent counter to the allegation of the rival camp that she had been pushed at home. Also, the report added that but for the steroids administered for atopic dermatitis (a skin condition), she was only on drugs to control her blood sugar and blood pressure.
The elaborate treatment reports indicate that there were periods (at least two) in which Jayalalithaa interacted with ‘family members and officials’ at her bedside. However, the records note her deteriorating condition necessitating invasive ventilation.
As is in the public realm, she was moved out of the ICU into a high dependency unit where she continued to receive physiotherapy (from a Singapore-based team) in addition to being closely monitored by doctors and nurses.
Jayalalithaa suffered a massive cardiac arrest on the evening of December 4, 2016, even while the intensivist from Apollo Hospitals was in her room, as has been reported earlier. When ‘cardio pulmonary resuscitation’ failed, she was provided ECMO support within an hour, to revive her. The press release then names those who were informed about the situation and went on to participate in the final decision, including O. Panneerselvam, who was then holding the portfolios of Jayalalithaa.
He has been, since his rebellion, demanding to be told the ‘truth’ regarding the death of Jayalalithaa and has even announced that he would go on a fast to learn the truth.
