KOTA KINABALU: A neurosurgeon who treated 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir testified that her condition was already beyond recovery when she was admitted on July 16.
Dr Pavankumar Balachandran, 32, told the Coroner's Court here on Tuesday (Sept 8) that Zara Qairina sustained severe traumatic brain injury with hypoxic changes, leaving her with no brainstem reflexes and unable to breathe on her own.
“She was intubated and placed on mechanical ventilation.
"The prognosis was severely guarded, which means her chance of survival was extremely poor,” he said.
The doctor said that by the time Zara Qairina was transferred to the neurosurgery ward, he knew the girl was unlikely to survive.
Zara Qairina was found unconscious on the ground floor of her school dormitory in Papar at around 3am on July 16.
She was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital but passed away the following day.
The Attorney General's Chambers announced on Aug 13 that an inquest into her death would be conducted.
More to come
