Delhi rape case: Girl's condition deteriorates, doctors say she's very serious

NEW DELHI: The health of the 23-year-old gangrape victim deteriorated today after she showed tendencies of internal bleeding, with doctors calling her condition "very serious and very critical" but psychologically fit.

Doctors at the Safdarjung Hospital, where she was rushed to after being gangraped and physically assaulted on December 16, said her condition is "not as good as yesterday" though her vital parameters are normal, thanks to the supplementation provided.

"She showed some tendency for internal bleeding last night. In simple terms, she has reduced capacity for coagulation (the process by which blood forms clots)... She is not as good as yesterday. She continues to be on ventilator support," said Medical Superintendent Dr B D Athani.

He said the bilirubin level has come down to 5.5 from yesterday's 6.3 and the platelet count has increased to 70,000 from yesterday's 19,000. A normal platelet count in a healthy individual is between 150,000 and 450,000 per micro litres of blood.

Doctors said the bleeding was because of sepsis, a severe blood infection that can lead to organ failure, which still remain a cause of "major concern" as far as the girl's health is concerned.

Athani said they have not made an effort to put the girl off ventilator because of her condition and noted that she was running fever of 102 degrees to 104 degrees.

The girl was subjected to psychiatric counselling this morning along with her parents. Dr Rastogi of the Psychology Department said despite her fragile body condition, the girl is "relatively composed".

"She has not shown any anxiety or depression," he said. P K Verma, ICU in-charge at the Safdarjung Hospital, said she is "very serious, very critical" and still "not out of danger".