Court slams docs on flip-flop over Katta's health

The court was hearing the medical opinion on the treatment options for Katta who has had a relapse of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a form of cancer. Four oncologists from Victoria Hospital said Katta had to receive stem cell transplant and he had to be sent to Royal Free Hampstead Hospital in London.  Katta had received treatment in this hospital in 2008 and his stem cells are supposed to be stored in that place.

The court asked them why Katta had to be sent to London when similar treatment was available here and elsewhere in India. Judge N K Sudhindra Rao warned that the report would be sent to the Medical Council of India and if their assessment was found to be wrong, then action could be taken against them. The judge directed the medical superintendent of Victoria Hospital to submit a report on the assessment of treatment for Katta’s condition.

The court has now sought a report on September 28, whether Katta’s stem cells are indeed stored in the London hospital, the stage of his treatment and places where the treatment is available in India.

Katta is under detention in connection with the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board land scam case.

In his affidavit, Dr B G Tilak gave the surgeon’s version of having Katta sent to London. His opinion that Katta could be treated at a “higher hospital,” irritated   the court.
Asked where the higher hospitals were, Dr Tilak responded that he did not know. “Have you not discussed this with your oncologists? Do you mean to say you don’t know where treatment is available? A concerned composite opinion is what I need,” the judge remarked.

Dr Tilak, who was accompanied by an oncologist, had no proper answers to questions whether the stem cells were still stored in the London hospital, the period of treatment, where the treatment was available and the exact stage of Katta’s disease. While the doctors suggested that Katta needed to undergo high dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant, they also opined that Katta needed a CT-guided biopsy to determine the malignancy of his cancer and its subsequent treatment.