Dasmunsi still critical, shifted to Apollo

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi “is still very critical and continues to be on life-support”, doctors at the Indraprastha Apollo hospital have said. The minister was shifted to the hospital from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at around 11 am on Monday. He is in the intensive care unit under the care of senior neurologist Dr Vineet Suri.

Dasmunsi, 62, was admitted to AIIMS following complete left ventricular failure on October 13. He was resuscitated and shifted to the cardiac care unit in the cardiology department.

“The minister was discharged from AIIMS at 10.30 in the morning and moved to Apollo. His family wanted to shift him for further treatment of his neurological condition,” Dr DK Sharma, AIIMS medical superintendent, said.

While Dr Sharma said Dasmunsi was taken off the life-support apparatus at AIIMS, the doctors at Apollo say he has continuously been on life-support.

Neurologist Dr Den Henley from Johns Hopkins Hospital in the US was flown in on Saturday. Dr Henley conducted an EEG, electroencephalography to measure and record brain activity. The results were not encouraging, said doctors at AIIMS. “After the test reports came in, he didn’t seem too hopeful,” said a source, who didn’t wish to be identified as he is not authorised to speak to the media. Dr Henley flew back late Sunday.