Jayalalithaa's Medical Report Made Public by TN Govt to End 'Speculation'

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government on Monday made public the medical report of the late chief minister J Jayalalithaa to “put to rest speculation surrounding her hospitalisation, treatment and death”.

According to the report, Jayalalithaa had suffered a heart attack, had diabetes issues and needed prolonged life support.

Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) had earlier on Monday handed over the medical report to the state government. The report contains the analysis of Jayalalithaa's health condition by the doctors of the premier institute during their five visits to Chennai.

The move assumes significance in the backdrop of doubts being raised from different quarters over the former AIADMK chief's death on December 5.

Tamil Nadu Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan told reporters in New Delhi after receiving the report by AIIMS doctors that there "is no basis to the speculation which has been circulated in the media" on Jayalalithaa's treatment.

To quash these kinds of speculations, the medical report by AIIMS doctors has been received "from the Government of India at our request", he said.

"It is a very self-explanatory report and we have not held back anything," Radhakrishnan added.

Meanwhile, the press statement quoting the report said Jayalalithaa was administered resuscitation and provided ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrance Oxygenation) support within an hour.

"Every possible clinical attempt was made to sustain her revival as per prescribed medical protocols," the statement said, quoting Radhakrishnan.

He said a team of doctors, including experts from Apollo and AIIMS, assessed the situation. It was clinically concluded that there was no heart function and also no neurological improvement, denoting futility of life support.

Hence, after following all procedures, the position was conveyed to senior ministers and political leaders -- O Panneerselvam (former Chief Minister), Health Minister Vijayabhaskar, Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai, and AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala.

It was also conveyed to the chief secretary, the health secretary and other top government officials, the statement quoted him as saying.

All of them understood the situation and asked the medical team to act as per the standard protocol.

The Tamil Nadu government had on Sunday rejected former chief minister and rebel AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam's claims of foul play in the treatment of Jayalalithaa, an allegation which has been dismissed by state Health Minister C Vijayabaskar.

The opposition DMK, too, has approached the Madras High Court seeking a comprehensive probe into the death of Jayalalithaa.

Twelve AIADMK MPs, belonging to the O Panneerselvam group, had met President Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi on February 28 and handed over a petition seeking a probe into the medical treatment provided to Jayalalithaa.

(With PTI inputs)