Chennai: Three AIIMS doctors deposing before the Justice Arumughaswamy Commission probing the death of Jayalalithaa have told the panel on Friday that the expert medical team had been constituted to monitor her treatment at the Apollo Hospital, only based on the Centre's advisory following Tamil Nadu government's request.
GC Khilnani of the Department of Pulmonology, Anjan Trikha, Professor of Anaesthesiology, and Nitish Nayak, professor of Cardiology, appeared before the one-man panel for cross-examination. Quoting from their depositions, N Raja Senthoor Pandian, counsel for VK Sasikala, an aide of the late Chief Minister, said the specialists were satisfied with the treatment provided to her.
“The doctors expressed satisfaction over the treatment provided for the late Chief Minister by Apollo Hospital and they said Apollo has all the amenities of the AIIMS,” Pandian told reporters.
The three doctors were examined by the Commission from 10.30 am to 5.30 pm on Thursday.
They had been issued summons by the panel to appear before it.
“The doctors said a medical team of AIIMS experts was formed by its director, based on the advisory of the Central government,” Pandian said quoting their depositions and added that this was done on a request from the state government.
The AIIMS doctors said they had examined Jayalalithaa at Apollo nine times during her hospitalisation in the ICU, adding they had suggested tracheostomy procedure for her. The procedure is usually done to optimise breathing.
They said Jayalalithaa was 'fine' when they examined her on December 3, 2016 (two days before her death). She could sit for 20 minutes and did not need any surgical intervention or intensive treatment.
She had been, however, critical for about 11 days between October 5 and 15 that year, the AIIMS doctors told the Commission.
The doctors said Minister O Panneerselvam (who then held the portfolios of Jayalalithaa including Home) and Lok Sabha Speaker M Thambidurai were present during the medical briefings.
The Commission had summoned three doctors of AIIMS, who examined her at the Apollo Hospital here, to appear before it on August 23 and 24. Pandian said he had sought summoning of AIIMS doctors since January this year.
The panel’s terms of reference was to inquire into the circumstances leading to the hospitalisation of Jayalalithaa on September 22, 2016, and treatment provided by the hospital till her demise on December 5, 2016.
