MARGAO, JULY 11
Hospicio’s junior physician Dr Iona Barreto has refuted reports that former Tourism Minister Mickky Pacheco was admitted in the hospital ICU (intensive care unit) under political pressure.
She has also denied reports that she had overwritten on the medical report and added that she stands by the medical report signed by her on that day at 5.15 pm.
Dr Barreto explained there was no pressure of any kind from any politician to admit him in the ICU. “It was my decision to admit Pacheco in the air conditioned room (not the ICU) since his blood pressure was around 170/100”, she said.
Incidentally, contrary to reports that Pacheco had declined to give his blood samples, Dr Iona said the former minister had never ever refused any blood examination and added that the MLA had been cooperative for blood tests. “We had taken his blood on numerous occasions. Certain tests were done in the hospital, while many others were done in private laboratories”, she said.
She further said she could have admitted Pacheco in the male ward, but there were no beds. The physician said she could not keep Pacheco on a floor bed with a blood pressure as high as 170/100. “The so called ICU is not an intensive care unit. It is just an air conditioned room with four beds without even a 12-hour nurse to monitor the patient”, she said.
On the decision to refer Pacheco to the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim, the physician said the hospital had received a letter from the Crime Branch stating that they want to take Pacheco’s custody after he is medical fit for a discharge. “We referred the former minister to GMC as we felt that there are abundant number of consultants and where blood tests could be done with ease”, she said.
