Discharge postponed till poisonous substance’s final report from forensic labs: Principal GMC
At present 11 patients from Badhal under treatment in GMC Rajouri
Shyam Sood
Rajouri, January 28: The authorities of Government Medical College decided to delay the discharge of the eight patients from Badhal village, who were earlier decided to discharge on Tuesday (January 28).
These eight patients are among 11 patients from Badhal area who are currently under treatment in Associated Hospital Government Medical College (AH GMC) Rajouri and have recovered.
The main reason behind the postponement of their discharge is that the GMC authorities have not yet received the final reports from the Central Forensic Laboratories.
The recoveries of these patients at GMC Rajouri, three sisters discharged on Monday from Jammu hospitals and Aijaz responding to treatment in PGI Chandigarh, has brought a ray of hope for inhabitants of Badhal area in a desperate situation.
“The expert committee of Government Medical College Rajouri analysed the whole episode and decided not to discharge the patients unless the final diagnosis of the toxin consumed by them is made by the reports from the Central Forensic laboratories,” said GMC Principal, Prof. (Dr) AS Bhatia.
Out of 11 patients from Badhal undergoing treatment in GMC Rajouri, 8 are taken off of Atropine for the last five days and were to discharge on Tuesday but GMC authorities decided to keep them under observation because, according to doctors, many toxins take 3-6 weeks and more to react after their consumption.
“At present we are not sure about the exact nature of the poisonous substance consumed by the inhabitants of Budaal village, and we have started an empirical treatment based on statistical data of treatment and have started atropine and which has proved to be a game changer, and 100% recovery rate has been achieved,” said Principal GMC Dr AS Bhatia.
“We have decided to wait for the final report about the exact nature of the poisonous substances consumed by these persons so that they can be discharged by putting them on medicine which will protect them from the long effects of that toxic compound,” he added.
He added none of the patients who reached GMC Rajouri from Badhal had typical signs and symptoms of organophosphorus poisoning against which Atropine is effective, and which was the most surprising feature for all treating doctors.
But by chance Atropine has proved to be very effective and after last death most of the patients have recovered, even Aijaz responding to treatment in PGI Chandigarh.
“Now it is a matter of concern whether there was any other poison along with organophosphorus poisoning or there was a poison against which atropine was also effective,” said Principal GMC Rajouri.
He emphasized that many poisons have longer acting actions which can produce effects even after 3 to 6 weeks of consumption.
“Hence taking all precautions the team has decided not to discharge the patients till the final report about the poisonous substance is received from forensic labs so that proper treatment can be given to the patients at the n Contd on page 2
time of discharge,” said Prof (Dr) Bhatia.
