During the 75-day long hospitalization of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, Apollo Hospitals said that all CCTV cameras were turned off. Hospital chairman Dr Prathap C Reddy said on Thursday that before her death on December 5, 2016, she was the only patient occupying the 24-bed intensive care unit.
During the press conference of the Apollo International Colorectal Symposium 2018, Reddy said that the hospital had submitted all relevant documents to the Justice A Arumughaswamy Commission of inquiry probing Jayalalithaa’s death.
Former chief minister Jayalalithaa was admitted to the hospital on September 22, 2016. She suffered a cardiac arrest on December 4 and was declared dead the following day.
When asked if he had also submitted CCTV footage, he said, “I am sorry. Unfortunately, they switched off all the CCTVs for all the 75 days. As soon as she got admitted, the access to the ICU was closed. All patients were diverted to another ICU. This ICU was occupied only by her. Only one out of 24 room in the ICU was used. They removed the camera because they did not want everyone to be watching,” he said adding that no visitors were allowed to meet her.
“In the hospital, we follow a simple policy. No one is allowed in the ICU, except close relatives for a short time. Since she was critical, we did not permit. But relatives have an option to ask for some people. The doctor who is on duty can allow,” Dr Reddy said.
The doctor also said that the hospital had done its best, however, unfortunately, they couldn’t save the 69-year-old leader.
“The matter is sub judice, as a one-man commission is holding an inquiry. She was at the hospital for several days. From ward boys to technicians to nurses to doctors everyone took good care of her. There were doctors from other countries as well. We had high hopes she would recover. I even said she was well,” he said.
The hospital will appear before the commission when it is summoned. “We have submitted all reports. I do not know the day-to-day developments. If they call us, we are ready to appear before the commission,” he said.