AIIMS neurologist Manjuri Tripathy at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack on Monday. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Feb. 20: An expert neurologist from All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, reviewed the condition of the alleged Pipili gangrape victim at SCB Medical College and Hospital here today. She said there has been no noteworthy improvement in the victim’s condition.

“The patient is still in a vegetative state and her condition is fluctuating, as her defence mechanism is weaker than that of a normal person,” said Manjuri Tripathy, the AIIMS neurologist.

She said the best available treatment was being provided to the patient and there was no need to shift her to AIIMS or any other medical institute.

Tripathy said there were bedsores in the scalp of the victim, which were common in such cases, and the doctors were tackling the situation in the best possible manner.

“It is difficult to ascertain when there would be some improvement in her condition as there has been extensive damage to her brain,” she said.

Earlier, SCB authorities made attempts to shift the patient to AIIMS, but the victim’s family members opposed to that.

Later, the Odisha government initiated efforts to seek the assistance of AIIMS experts. Authorities of SCB also discussed the patient’s condition with AIIMS experts through teleconferencing.

In an order on January 13, Orissa High Court had directed the SCB authorities to seek specialist advice, even if required from outside the state, for the victim’s treatment.

“On request of the Odisha government, a neurologist from AIIMS examined the patient for nearly two hours today,” said SCB emergency officer B.N. Moharana.

Tripathy also suggested that the SCB authorities continue physiotherapy and music therapy for the patient’s treatment.

The duration of physiotherapy and music therapy, which are conservative and supporting treatment, would be increased at the earliest, said Moharana.