Shift to Singapore hasn't benefited the patient: Doctors - Firstpost

While the government has rejected criticism by doctors in the New Delhi,  who have come down heavily against it for risking the critically injured gang-rape survivor's life by airlifting her from Delhi to Mount Elizabeth hospital in Singapore, the patient's rapidly deteriorating health condition indicates that the government has some explaining to do.

As per the latest health bulletin from Kelvin Loh, chief executive officer of Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore, the patient's condition has taken a turn for the worse. "Her vital signs are deteriorating with signs of severe organ failure," Loh said in a statement.

AP

Was there any benefit at all then of taking the risk of air-lifting the patient in a dramatic late-night operation and shifting her to Singapore?

"Given the risks of transportation and the lack of proven benefit of the Singapore acute medical care system over the Indian one, I don't think it has benefited the patient," said Samiran Nundy, chairperson of the surgical gastroenterology and liver transplantation department of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

Asked about the risks involved in airlifting a critically injured patient, Nundy told Firspost: "Airlifting involves moving a patient with only a skeleton staff and machinery. The aircraft is under low pressure and there may be a slight fall in the oxygen saturation."

With doctors having ruled out any possibility of a transplant in the patient's present condition, would it not have been more wise to wait before shifting the patient. "I agree. It would have been better to stabilise her first," said Nundy.

The biggest challenge for the doctors, he added, would be get rid of her infection and support her organ systems.

The patient is suffering a serious blood infection that can lead to organ failure.

Prior to her arrival at Mount Elizabeth the patient had undergone three abdominal surgeries and experienced a cardiac arrest.

A health bulletin from hospital earlier today said that the patient also had a lung and abdomen infection as well as significant brain surgery.