Jaya doctors debunk conspiracy theories

As questions continued to rage over the death of J Jayalalithaa, London-based specialist Richard Beale, Apollo and government doctors on Monday ruled out poisoning as the cause and asserted that there was "no conspiracy" or mystery in either the treatment or what led to her end.

Beale faced a number of questions including some hostile ones as he and the other doctors sought to clear the air at a government arranged a press conference at a star hotel on the health of the AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister when she was rushed to the Apollo Hospitals here on September 22 last.

One of the scribes even told Dr Beale that the answers were "unconvincing", to which he responded with wonder and surprise. To another question, he said he had seen in his career similar cases but this was the first time he was justifying the line of treatment.

He said Jayalalithaa was conscious while being brought from her home and that the process of treatment was "perfectly straightforward".

Jayalalithaa was declared dead at Apollo hospital at 11.30 pm on December 5, a day after she suffered a massive cardiac arrest. "It was a witnessed cardiac arrest," doctors said.

Beale, who is a world-renowned intensive care specialist, said Jayalalithaa had sepsis when she was brought to Apollo Hospital in a conscious state and the source of infection was unknown.

The late Chief Minister was on and off the ventilator and often also interacted after being admitted for fever and dehydration, Beale said.

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.

Dr Beale said the AIADMK leader was given the best possible treatment and even intermittently conscious for days during her prolonged hospitalisation.

The press conference is being facilitated by the government, he said, adding that the government asked him to come now.

The press conference, which was called to dispel rumours on the late chief minister's death.

"We want to dispel rumours on Jayalalithaa's condition, treatment," the doctors said.

Beale said the process of treatment was "perfectly straightforward" amid allegations that Jayalalithaa was not given proper treatment, which was couched in unusual secrecy.

He also said any question of exhuming the body of Jayalalithaa was "ridiculous.