UK doctor flown to Chennai to consult on CM Jayalalithaa’s health

As rumours abound over the health of Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, Apollo Hospital on Friday flew in a British consultant to assess her condition, and said the CM was receiving the best course of treatment.

The Apollo Hospital flew in a British consultant to assess the health of Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, and said the CM was receiving the best course of treatment.

J Jayalalithaa, leader of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), ahead of the swearing-in ceremony as chief minister of Tamil Nadu in Chennai on May 23, 2016. The CM has been hospitalised for a week. (AFP)

Dr Richard John Beale, a consultant critical care physician at the London Bridge Hospital, reached Chennai on Friday, and will be on hand over the next few days. Jayalalithaa had been admitted to the private hospital with complaints of high fever and dehydration on September 22.

Despite regularly providing press notices, the hospital and the ruling AIADMK party have been unable to prevent speculation about her condition.

Chennai police commissioner S George on Thursday warned that those spreading rumours of Jayalalithaa’s health could be detained under the IT Act. A case was filed by the AIADMK IT wing against self-described author Tamizhachi, who made a Facebook post alleging that the party leader had died because of the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak.

Read | End rumours about Jayalalithaa’s health, show her photos: Karunanidhi

On Friday, the opposition DMK party chief, M Karunanidhi asked the state government to release a photo of the chief minister, and called on the governor to intervene in the matter.

Recalling 1984, when the then CM MG Ramachandran was hospitalised, Karunanidhi said that the public had regular health updates from the health minister.

So far it is unclear what ails Jayalalithaa. She is known to suffer from diabetes, cellulitis, and hypertension.