Doctors say Sarabjit’s condition deteriorates

PTI Updated - April 30, 2013 at 02:18 PM.

Doctors treating Indian death row convict Sarbajit Singh, comatose in a Lahore hospital after a brutal assault last week, today said his condition has deteriorated.

Allama Iqbal Medical College principal Mahmood Shaukat, head of a four-member medical board supervising Sarabjit’s treatment, confirmed that his condition has deteriorated.

“In our latest investigation, there was no sign of improvement (in Sarabjit’s condition). Rather, his condition further deteriorated,” Shaukat said.

Sarabjit is in a special intensive care unit of the state-run Jinnah Hospital.

Shaukat said top neurosurgeons and physicians are providing the best treatment to save his life.

The doctors have changed some medications after the deterioration in his condition. A second CT scan on Sarabjit too did not reveal any signs of improvement, Shaukat said.

“The Glasgow Coma Scale of the patient is being monitored on a daily basis,” he added.

GCS score

A source had earlier told PTI that Sarabjit’s condition was measured as 5 on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), which indicates the level of damage to a person’s central nervous system.

The lowest possible GCS score is 3 while the highest is 15. The GCS assesses the level of consciousness after a profound head injury and Sarabjit’s reading indicated deep unconsciousness, making his treatment a major neurosurgical challenge for the medical board.

In a related development, Sarabjit’s sister Dalbir Kaur today demanded that Indian doctors should be called in to assist in his treatment.

Published on April 30, 2013 08:25