Thiruvananthapuram: Amid reports that police likely colluded with Kerala IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman in a bid to derail the probe into the drunk-driving case in which he is an accused, the doctors at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital claimed that the bureaucrat has a rare medical condition known as retrograde amnesia.
Retrograde amnesia refers to the loss of memory about events that occurred a couple of hours prior to any traumatic or shocking incident or before the onset of a disease. The medical board scrutinising Sriram' condition said his condition would improve with time.
Experts say retrograde amnesia is a rare medical condition often found among people with brain injuries.
The IAS officer, who is also a doctor, has been shifted from the Intensive Care Unit to the step-down ward. He had fractured his hand as his car reportedly driven by him rammed a bike early on Saturday, killing journalist KM Basheer.
The medical board also said that has suffered injuries to his left wrist. Though the accused complained of stomach ailments, the doctors could not find any problem on examination.
Sriram is also suffering from pain in the neck and hands. One of the discs of his spine has been dislodged, causing congestion to the nerve.
After three weeks of treatment, surgery would be performed if needed.
Sriram was moved out of the intensive care unit as his headache and vomiting had ceased. The doctors have also asked to continue to administer medicine to reduce mental stress.
Incidentally, Sriram, an alumnus of the Medical College Hospital, is being treated by his former teachers and classmates.
The disease
People who have retrograde amnesia would also have anterograde amnesia in which he or she would forget the events after the traumatic incident, experts say. The retrograde amnesia is for four hours, while anterograde amnesia is for two hours.
If those having retrograde amnesia claim that they only have that medical condition, then it is not scientifically possible to prove it wrong.