Correct Medical Practice and No Errors: AIIMS panel absolves Apollo Hospital in Jayalalithaa death probe matter

New Delhi: The medical board of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) recently provided relief to the Apollo Hospital, the report concluded that the treatment provided to the late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was as per "correct medical practice and no errors" have been found in the care provided.

Former Tamil Nadu chief minister O. Pannerselvam had requested a probe over her death which led to the formation of the Arumughaswamy Commission. With direction from the Supreme Court, the AIIMS panel was formed to assist Arumughaswamy Commission.

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that the Supreme Court had, on November 30, 2021, directed the AIIMS to constitute a medical board to assist the Justice Arumughaswamy commission that is probing the death of the former Chief Minister.

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The panel found all the final diagnosis and timeline of events of Jayalalithaa's health was fully observed and also agreed with Apollo's treatment and diagnosis.

After the demise of Jayalalithaa in December 2016, full-scale politics erupted over the cause of her death and the medical procedures followed during her hospitalization.

Arumughaswamy Commission commenced its investigation in November 2017 with many hearings of close aides of Jayalalithaa and doctors who provided treatment, then Tamil Nadu Health Minister Vijayabhakar, then Health Secretary Radhakrishnan, then Finance Minister of Tamil Nadu and AIADMK senior leader O. Pannerselvam.

Over 157 witnesses in relation to Jayalalithaa have appeared before Arumughaswamy Commission and have put forward their points of view.

Meanwhile, in 2019, Apollo Hospital moved to Madras High Court seeking an interim stay on proceedings of the probe panel relating to the medical treatment given to former Jayalalitha.

The plea claimed that the probe panel has gone beyond the scope of its terms and references and behaved in a partial manner to fasten liability on Apollo Hospitals. Whereas Madras High Court rejected Apollo Hospital's plea to objections to the enquiry commission.

Following this Apollo appealed to Supreme Court against the Madras High Court order where the apex court ordered AIIMS to set up a medical board to assist Arumughaswamy Commission to understand the medical treatment provided to Jayalalithaa.

Based on the medical records, a final diagnosis was made of Bacteremia and Septic shock with a respiratory infection.

There was also evidence of heart failure. She had uncontrolled diabetes at admission which was treated. There was also a history of hypertension, hyperthyroid, asthmatic, irritable bowel syndrome and atopic dermatitis and the medical panel at AIIMS has said that it "agrees with the final diagnosis".

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