Apollo Hospitals had turned off the closed circuit TV cameras placed in the intensive care unit where former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was undergoing treatment, Prathap C. Reddy, executive chairman, said on Thursday.
In response to a question on whether the hospital had handed over the CCTV footage from the ICU to the Justice Arumugasamy Commission that was inquiring into the events that preceded Jayalalithaa’s death, he said, “Unfortunately, we switched off all the cameras. All other patients were diverted and only one or two rooms were used. We removed the footage.”
At a media briefing on the sidelines of the hospital’s announcement of an upcoming colorectal symposium in the city, Dr. Reddy, who took questions on the hospital’s response to the inquiry commission, said Jayalalithaa was given the best treatment when she was admitted to the hospital.
“She came very critical, we did our very best, and then we thought there was hope, and she was recovering fast. I made that bold statement [that she could go home whenever she wanted] when I was sure. But unfortunately, she had that massive heart attack. It was not a one-day or a two-day treatment, but [something that took] several days and weeks. From ward boys to technologists, doctors and nurses... everybody did their very best,” Dr. Reddy said.
Administration of steroids
On whether the documents given to the Commission contained details of who met the former Chief Minister when she was hospitalised, he said, “I am sorry. In the hospital, we follow a simple policy. As far as possible, in the intensive care unit, we don’t allow anyone except close relatives for a very short time. When she was very critical, we did not stop it [the practice] but the relatives had an option to ask for some people which the duty doctor can allow.”
On a question on the administration of steroids to Jayalalithaa early in the treatment process, he said: “I was not the treating doctor. But I know the team of doctors, all our hospitals co-operated on this and even doctors from the other country were here. They came and this is how we had high hopes that she was recovering well. And I almost said she is well and that is how she appeared. We moved her from the ICU to an ordinary room because of her improvement.”
“Everything is documented from the time of her arrival. The documents are with the Commission and it will return them once the inquiry is completed,” Dr. Reddy explained.
