Acid attack victim Hina Fathima’s demise on Tuesday morning in Bangalore has shocked doctors at K R Hospital in the city.
Hina, who suffered acid attack at the hands of her husband Fairoz on August 11, was treated at the hospital for close to 10 days immediately after the attack.
“She was doing well. In fact, her response to the treatment was so good that we decided it was time for her to get on with plastic surgery. Hence, she was sent to Bangalore after consulting other senior practitioners here since she was being stabilised by then,” said a doctor on condition of anonymity.
However, private practitioners feel it is high time for KR Hospital to be equipped with plastic surgery department. “It is ridiculous for a hospital to send patient in such a delicate situation for just plastic surgery. If this facility was present at the hospital itself, Hina could have been saved,” they argued.
She did well
During the initial days of her treatment, the doctors felt Hina had fewer chances of survival. “She did not evoke much optimism in us in the first few days. We thought she would succumb to injuries anytime. But, much to our surprise, she pulled on well,” another doctor said. Over a period of time, Hina had shown good signs of recuperation. “She could speak and express what she wanted or felt. She even sat up with a little help from others and tried walking in the corridors on some occasions. She did not pick up any infection while she was here because good washes were given,” the doctor said. According to doctors, it was crucial for Hina to get done with plastic surgery since the skin had started turning hard. “The eyelids which had joined in the corners had to be separated. The mouth had to be widened since the skin had melted there too. Her torso was completely burnt and she was bandaged,” they added.
Before collapsing
A senior practitioner said acid injuries and burns are not very different as far as treatment is concerned.
“However, it is tough to attribute any reason to her death right now. Sometimes, the patients do very well, just before collapsing just the way a candle burns brightest at its end,” the doctor opined.

Cremated
Acid attack victim Hina Fathima who died at Victoria hospital in Bangalore during early hours on Tuesday was cremated in Mysore at 4 pm on the same day. The body was taken to burial grounds reserved for Muslims near Tipu circle in the city. Her parents and relatives accompanied the body which was brought from Bangalore after completing necessary formalities and postmortem. “The body which came at 3 pm was not kept for long time because the charred skin had started opening up. It was packed haphazardly after it was cut open for postmortem. So, we just rushed to the burial grounds as soon as we completed our rituals which took about one hour. As soon as Azaan (call for prayers) was sounded at 4 pm,” said Tasneem, Hina’s cousin in Mysore.