Late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s doctor Richard Beale who was flown in from the UK to treat her when she was in the ICU at Apollo Hospital, on Monday said that she succumbed to serious infection which led to organ failure.
Addressing the media, Dr. Richard Beale said, “I want to dispel rumors about Jayalalithaa’s death.”
“Jayalalithaa was suffering from septicemia, suffering from uncontrolled sugar, blood pressure, dehydration. There was infection in her blood. We detected sepsis bacteria in her blood,” he said.
Doctors also said that when she came to the hospital, she was conscious and responding to treatment. “When she came to, us she was drowsy. But when she woke up, she was speaking to us,” said Apollo doctor.
Further stating that she was on and off ventilator, he added, “At the beginning, when she was unwell, she wasn’t able to interact. Later, situation improved and she was aware and able to interact more.”
Beale was flanked by P Balaji of Madras Medical College and K Babu of Apollo Hospitals, who had signed in election forms on which her thumb impression was taken. This was for nominating AIADMK candidates for elections to two seats and bypoll to one segment last year.
When asked why no photograph of her was released, Dr Beale said, “It is not normal practice to take photos and publish private details. It is an intrusion into her privacy.”
Jayalalithaa passed away on the night of December 5th, a day after suffering cardiac arrest.
