A bulletin from the Apollo hospital tonight said it has taken expert opinion from a UK-based doctor who examined her and concurred with the present line of management. The bulletin said the CM has been improving and advised a few more days stay at the hospital. 68-year-old Jayalalithaa was admitted to the Apollo Hospital on September 22 with complaints of fever and dehydration.

This is for the first time since she was admitted that the hospital has said she was being treated for infection. "Chief Minister, who is undergoing treatment, continues to improve. Apollo Hospital obtained an expert opinion from International Specialist and Consultant from the Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, London, Dr Richard Beale who was flown in from the United Kingdom on September 30, 2016," it said.

Dr Beale examined the Chief Minister, evaluated various clinical reports and "had detailed discussions with the expert group of doctors treating the Chief Minister and concurred with the present line of management", it said.

Based on the discussions the expert group had with Dr Beale, "The current treatment plan including appropriate antibiotics and other allied clinical measures are presently being continued to treat infection," the hospital said.

"The Chief Minister is responding well to the treatment given to her. Chief Minister has been advised a few more days stay in the hospital," the bulletin added.

Throughout her hospitalisation, the AIADMK has shot down reports that the Chief Minister, a former movie star and one of the most popular and powerful politicians in the country, is seriously unwell.

It has said she has been treated for fever and dehydration. Amid escalating speculation about her health, the party has filed four police cases against people who misreported her condition on social media.

Dr. Richard Beale Bio - The Savior!

Richard Beale is professor of intensive care medicine at King’s College, London, and a consultant in intensive care medicine at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. Area of expertise: acute lung injury, severe sepsis, critical care informatics and nutrition in the critically ill.

His clinical and research interests include sepsis, haemodynamic monitoring, advanced ventilation, nutrition in the critically ill, and intensive care informatics.

Professor Beale is clinical director for perioperative, critical care and pain services at Guy’s and St Thomas’. He is also co-leader of the clinical academic group within King’s Health Partners (KHP) that includes critical care, and is acute clinical academic group development lead for KHP with honorary membership of their executive.

He is immediate past chair of the research committee of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM), and was a member of the ESICM executive. He has been an ESICM representative on the steering committee of the surviving sepsis campaign since 2004, and is a frequent invited speaker at national and international meetings. 

Special interests: Acute lung injury, multiple organ failure, general intensive care