Emedinews:Insights on Medicolegal Issues:Aruna is clearly not in coma

·         Aruna accepts the food in normal course and responds by facial expressions. She responds to commands intermittently by making sounds. 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.

·         Thus, there was some variance between the allegations in the writ petition and the counter affidavit of KEM Hospital. Hon’ble Supreme Court, by order dated 24 January, 2011 appointed a team of three very distinguished doctors of Mumbai to examine Aruna thoroughly and submit a report about her physical and mental condition.

·         The committee after thorough examination gave the opinion that she has evidence of intact auditory, visual, somatic and motor primary neural pathways. However, no definitive evidence for awareness of auditory, visual, somatic and motor stimuli was observed during our examinations.

·         On perusal of the report of the committee of three doctors, Hon’ble SC noted that there are many technical terms which have been used therein which a non–medical man would find it difficult to understand. We, therefore, request the doctors to submit a supplementary report by the next date of hearing in which the meaning of these technical terms in the report is also explained.