There were no visible bruises or signs of abuse on the body of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir when she arrived at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (HQE).
Dr. Janefer Voo, 32, a medical officer at the hospital’s Emergency and Trauma Department, testified that she received Zara in an unconscious state on July 16 at 4:38 a.m.
Zara had sustained multiple injuries, including swelling and bleeding at the back of her head, a closed fracture of the left wrist, an open fracture of the left ankle, and a closed fracture of the right ankle.
Following the examination, a “Trauma Alert” was activated at HQE’s Emergency Department at 4:42 a.m. to immediately involve the Neurosurgery, Orthopedic, Surgery, and Anesthesiology teams.
“Based on my assessment, the patient was suspected to have suffered severe traumatic brain injury, injuries to the back of the head, fractures in both ankles and the left wrist, and possible internal bleeding. Her blood pressure was extremely low, suggesting internal injuries from a high-impact trauma to the body that caused internal bleeding. No bruises or signs of abuse were observed,” Dr. Voo stated in her testimony at the Coroner’s Court.
Datuk Badiuszaman Ahmad, the coordinating officer, later requested Dr. Voo to sign her witness statement.
After resuscitation and imaging, Dr. Voo confirmed that Zara had suffered intracranial bleeding, an open fracture of the left ankle and heel, closed fractures of the left arm and right leg, fractures of lumbar vertebrae 2, 3, and 4, and blood clots in the pelvis and left psoas muscle.
Dr. Voo is a medical trainee from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) who was posted at HQE.
