It was learnt from the persons mentioned above that Ms. Aruna Ramachandra Shanbaug was admitted in the hospital after she was assaulted and strangulated by a sweeper of the hospital on November 27, 1973.
Skin appeared to be generally in good companydition, there were numberbed sores, bruises or evidence of old healed bed sores.
The Missouri trial companyrt in this case found that permanent brain damage generally results after 6 minutes in an anoxic state it was estimated that Cruzan was deprived of oxygen from 12 to 14 minutes.
Neurology 201075S33 On 18th February, 2011, we then passed the following order In the above case Dr. J.V. Divatia on 17.02.2011 handed over the report of the team of three doctors whom we had appointed by our order dated 24th January, 2011.
On mentioning, the case has been adjourned to be listed on 2nd March, 2011 at the request of learned Attorney General of India, Mr. T.R. Andhyarujina, learned Senior Advocate, whom we have appointed as amicus curiae in the case as well as Mr. Shekhar Naphade, learned Senior Advocate for the petitioner.
Justice Mishra of the Supreme Court of India, Ms. Aruna Ramachandra Shanbaug, a 60 year old female patient was examined on 28th January 2011, morning and 3rd February 2011, in the side room of ward 4, of the K. E. Hospital by the team of 3 doctors viz.
A companynter affidavit was earlier filed on behalf of the respondent number.3 and 4, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation and the Dean, KEM Hospital by Dr. Amar Ramaji Pazare, Professor and Head in the said hospital, stating in paragraph 6 that Aruna accepts the food in numbermal companyrse and responds by facial expressions.
She makes sounds when she has to pass stool and urine which the nursing staff identifies and attends to by leading her to the toilet.
Since there was some variance in the allegation in the writ petition and the companynter affidavit of Dr. Pazare, we, by our order dated 24 January, 2011 appointed a team of three very distinguished doctors of Mumbai to examine Aruna Shanbaug thoroughly and submit a report about her physical and mental companydition.
Though she survived, she never fully recovered from the trauma and brain damage resulting from the assault and strangulation.
Justice Katju and Hon.
On the evening of 27th November, 1973 she was attacked by a sweeper in the hospital who wrapped a dog chain around her neck and yanked her back with it.
Pragna M. Pai, Dr. R.J. Shirahatti, Dr. Smt.
She also had brain stem companytusion injury with associated cervical companyd injury.
The parents then sought and received authorization from the state trial companyrt for termination.
It is alleged that due to strangulation by the dog chain the supply of oxygen to the brain stopped and the brain got damaged.
He tried to rape her but finding that she was menstruating, he sodomized her.
She remained in a companya for approximately three weeks, and then progressed to an unconscious state in which she was able to orally ingest some nutrition.
She also licked the sugar and banana paste sticking on her upper lips and swallowed it.
Her wrists had developed severe companytractures, and were fixed in acute flexion.
This team of three doctors was appointed to examine Aruna Ramachandra Shanbaug thoroughly and give a report to the Court about her physical and mental companydition It was felt by the team of doctors appointed by the Supreme Court that longitudinal case history and observations of last 37 years along with findings of examination will give a better, clear and companyprehensive picture of the patients companydition.
Current companytroversies in states of chronic unconsciousness.
Medical history Medical history of Ms. Aruna Ramachandra Shanbaug was obtained from the Dean, the Principal of the School of Nursing and the medical and nursing staff of ward 4 who has been looking after her.
These three doctors were Dr. J. V. Divatia, Professor and Head, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai Dr. Roop Gursahani, Consultant Neurologist at P.D. Hinduja, Mumbai and Dr. Nilesh Shah, Professor and Head, Department of Psychiatry at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Corporation Medical College and General Hospital.
The next day on 28th November, 1973 at 7.45 a.m. a cleaner found her lying on the floor with blood all over in an unconscious companydition.
Dr. J.V. Divatia Professor and Head, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai , Dr. Roop Gursahani Consultant Neurologist at P.D. Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai and Dr. Nilesh Shah Professor and Head, Department of Psychiatry at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Corporation Medical College and General Hospital .
Both knees had also developed companytractures right more than left .
She accepts feed which she likes but may spit out food which she doesnt like.
When an attempt was made to feed her by mouth, she accepted a spoonful of water, some sugar and mashed banana.
To immobilize her during this act he twisted the chain around her neck.
The hospital staff has provided her an excellent nursing care since then which included feeding her by mouth, bathing her and taking care of her toilet needs.
Medical aspects of the persistent vegetative state.
She was edentulous numberteeth .
There was numberpallor, cyanosis, clubbing or icterus.
Neurology 200258349 353 Bernat JL.
This report is based on The longitudinal case history and observations obtained from the Dean and the medical and nursing staff of K. E. M. Hospital, Case records including nursing records since January 2010 Findings of the physical, neurological and mental status examinations performed by the panel.
This companymittee was set up because the Court found some variance between the allegations in the writ petition filed by Ms. Pinki Virani on behalf of Aruna Ramchandras Shanbaug and the companynter affidavit of Dr. Pazare.
Thus, there was some variance between the allegations in the writ petition and the companynter affidavit of Dr. Pazare.
She responds to companymands intermittently by making sounds.
Investigations performed during the companyrse of this assessment Blood tests, CT head, Electroencephalogram II.
He has also handed over a CD in this companynection.
She appears to be happy and smiles when she receives her favorite food items like fish and chicken soup.
Since last so many years she is in the same bed in the side room of ward 4.
The care was of such an exceptional nature that she has number developed a single bed sore or fracture in spite of her bed ridden state since 1973.
In pursuance of our order dated 24th January, 2011, the team of three doctors above mentioned examined Aruna Shanbuag in KEM Hospital and has submitted us the following report Report of Examination of Ms. Aruna Ramachandra Shanbaug Jointly prepared and signed by Dr. J.V. Divatia Professor and Head, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain, at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai Dr. Roop Gursahani Consultant Neurologist at P.D. Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai Dr. Nilesh Shah Professor and Head, Department of Psychiatry at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Corporation Medical College and General Hospital .
Background As per the request of Hon.
According to the history from them, though she is number very much aware of herself and her surrounding, she somehow recognizes the presence of people around her and expresses her like or dislike by making certain types of vocal sounds and by waving her hands in certain manners.
In order to ease feeding and further the recovery, surgeons implanted a gastrostomy feeding and hydration tube in Cruzan with the companysent of her then husband.
Let the report as well as the CD form part of the record.
There were numberskin signs suggestive of nutritional deficiency or dehydration.
N.A. Kshirsagar, Dr. M.E. Yeolekar and number myself Dr. Sanjay N. Oak, all of us have visited her room time and again and have cared for her and seen her through her ups and downs.
An attending neurosurgeon diagnosed her as having sustained probable cerebral companytusions companypounded by significant anoxia lack of oxygen .
