The view from the hospital

Two, Rahul Mahajan was brought to casualty in an unconscious state with low oxygen levels and low blood pressure. It was due to prompt efforts in resuscitation (putting him on ventilator, drugs to improve blood pressure and metabolic state), which resulted in his speedy recovery. His investigations revealed severe respiratory, haematological, renal, liver and metabolic dysfunction which indicated the severity of his illness. It has been alleged in some sections of the print media that he did not require any aggressive medical treatment and that he was perfectly OK. Do they really feel that the treating team, the administration and the Mahajan family could have connived to put a healthy man on a ventilator? Do they realise that putting a person on the ventilator carries its own medical risks? The same media seems to have overlooked the fact that Bibek Moitra, who was with Rahul Mahajan on that fateful night, had possibly died of the same reasons.

Three, it is the hospital staff who, on their own, sent samples to another private laboratory, and actually provided the police with the gastric lavage and blood samples for the CFSL. Any reports from this lab and CFSL should be credited to the hospital. Why would we intentionally send samples elsewhere and compromise our own position if we intended to conceal evidence?

Four, the so-called discrepancy in lab reports (Apollo/Lal) is imaginary. People have passed judgment on these without seeing them and with very little understanding of such medical issues. There’s no discrepancy in the reports, in fact the reports are complementary and shouldn’t be seen in isolation.

Five, the hospital has become a victim of trial by media. All our colleagues have shown exemplary courage and extended their fullest cooperation to facilitate the inquiry.

Six, amazingly through this episode very few outside the medical fraternity have appreciated the fact that our colleagues through their hard work saved the life of a very sick young man. The Consultant’s Forum, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, wishes to congratulate the doctors who successfully treated this patient and will fully support them in this fight for justice.

The writer is a senior consultant with Indraprastha Apollo Hospital