More specialists flown in, Jaya’s treatment to take longer, says hospital

CHENNAI: Apollo Hospital on Thursday released the first relatively detailed health bulletin on Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa since her hospitalisation

CHENNAI: Apollo Hospital on Thursday released the first relatively detailed health bulletin on Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa since her hospitalisation last month, stating that she would have to remain under medical care for a “longer duration”.

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The document said a panel of medical experts had arrived at the consensus that the current line of treatment — comprising “decongestion of lungs, nebulisation for breathing, administration of antibiotics, supportive therapy, and general nursing care” — should continue.

A detailed medical management plan has been drawn up in view of Jayalalithaa’s history of diabetes and winter bronchitis, it added.

Earlier in the day, the Madras high court had dismissed a petition seeking information on Jayalalithaa’s medical condition, saying it was “meant for publicity”.

A bench comprising chief justice Sanjay Kaul and justice R Mahadevan took this action after hearing a public interest litigation filed by petitioner KR “Traffic” Ramaswamy on October 3.

The veteran social activist, who has often found himself at loggerheads with the AIADMK government, claimed that the public “had the right to know the actual status of the chief minister’s health”.

Three specialists from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi were also called in to assist the team attending on Jayalalithaa. The trio – comprising pulmonologist Dr GC Khilnani, cardiologist Dr Nitish Naik and anaesthetist Dr Anjan Trikha – reportedly held detailed discussions on her medical condition through the course of the day. Dr Richard John Beale, a world-renowned specialist and consultant from London, visited Chennai a second time to assist the team in an advisory role.

The chief minister was hospitalised on September 22 after she complained of high fever and dehydration, and the rumour mills have been running overtime since then. Initial press releases from the hospital failed to throw any light on the exact nature of her ailment, creating further confusion.

Ramaswamy’s petition cited several rumours regarding Jayalalithaa that had been doing the rounds, causing concern among party workers and well-wishers. Stressing on the need to dispel such talk, he said no information had emerged on the nature of the patient’s illness despite senior state ministers and Tamil Nadu governor Vidyasagar Rao visiting her on separate occasions.