Doctors Save Woman's Life Mistaken for Possession

Udaipur: Doctors at Pacific Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Umarda, saved the life of a 32-year-old woman from Lohargadh, Pratapgarh, who was initially thought to be possessed by a spirit. The woman was admitted to the emergency department on March 13, a day before Holi, with her hands and feet tied. According to her family, her behavior had been unusual for the past five days, including refusing food, not sleeping, and shouting about deceased relatives. Her voice had also become loud and deep, and she occasionally grabbed people forcefully.

Fearful for her safety, the family first took her to local spiritual healers who claimed she was possessed by a spirit and would not survive. As her condition worsened, the family was hesitant to admit her to the ICU. However, after reassuring the family, the doctors managed to convince them to keep her in the hospital for a week.

The doctors sedated her with dexmedetomidine infusion for 24 hours to calm her down. Tests revealed only a mild potassium deficiency (hypokalemia), which was treated. Her EEG and MRI brain scans were normal. Throughout the treatment, she was given high doses of mirtazapine, two sessions of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and hypnotic suggestions. With this approach, her condition improved completely.

This treatment was successfully carried out by Dr. Praveen Khairkar (Professor & Head of MD), Dr. Amit Kumar (Associate Professor, Anesthesia), Dr. Archish Khivsara, Dr. Manisha Meena, and the Psychiatry Department team, including Dr. Isha Bamla, Dr. Divya Chaddha, and Dr. Yosha Raghvanshi.

PIMS Chairman Ashish Agarwal emphasized that this case highlights the importance of trusting medical professionals over superstitions. Often, people associate mental health issues with spirits and seek help from traditional healers, which worsens the situation. Experts suggest that early medical intervention can lead to a quicker recovery for patients.