Gangrape victim a shade better now, but still critical

The 23-year-old gangrape survivor is well oriented and communicating with her family by gestures and doctors treating her also termed her condition "a shade better" than Monday. Rhythma Kaul reports.'Girl conscious, alert and communicating'

Reinforcing the fact that family and friends of rape victims need to be sensitised regarding how to provide emotional help to her, a team of psychiatrists at Safdarjung Hospital on Tuesday began counselling the parents of the 23-year-old gangrape survivor.

"Though she is stable, communicating meaningfully and very optimistic about her future, it is still imperative to sensitise people around her so that they can provide the necessary emotional support she needs," said Dr Rajesh Rastogi, consultant and head of department, psychiatry, at the hospital.

Doctors treating her also termed her condition "a shade better" than Monday.

"She is certainly not out of danger and continues to remain on ventilator, but her parameters have improved," said Dr Sunil Jain, senior surgeon at the hospital.

The girl is well oriented and communicating with her family by gestures as the endotracheal tube in her mouth providing the ventilator support is not letting her speak much.

Her platelet count has shot up to 80,000 and total leukocyte count is also 5,600. The serum billirubin has shown a slight jump and is at 7.7 but doctors say that her liver has no damage.

"We need to wait for her body to make these components on its own as right now we are trying to maintain her by pumping in a lots of fresh frozen plasma and other blood components and antibiotics. She is responding well," said Jain.

However, the fear of infection inside her abdomen still looms large as it shows signs of sepsis.

Her temperature kept fluctuating between 102 degrees Fahrenheit and 103 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating infection.

"The blood culture reports have come and the organisms found in her blood are sensitive to the antibiotics we are giving her, so the treatment is fine," said Dr PK Verma, ICU in charge at the hospital.