The BTech student ,who died at the Gauhati University hospital here on October 4, was suffering from suspected liver cirrhosis, said the preliminary report of the committee probing the case.

This followed accusations of medical negligence on part of the hospital staff.

“I have received the preliminary report of the inquiry committee. It will be discussed at a higher level. The final report will take some time. The preliminary report is based on the medical entry recorded that night and it suspects liver cirrhosis. We will have to wait for the post-mortem report to arrive at something definite,” said vice-chancellor Mridul Hazarika.

“Liver cirrhosis is caused by several factors, including alcoholism or chronic infections such as hepatitis B and C. But there are also some non-alcoholic causes like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFDL). Some causes of liver cirrhosis not known earlier are cryptogenic cirrhosis. In non-alcoholic causes, fat builds up in the liver causing scar tissue, which is associated with obesity diabetes and protein malnutrition,” said Dr Nripen Saikia, a Delhi based gastro-enterologist.

According to the Gauhati University medical note, where preliminary findings are recorded, when the patient was brought, his whole body smelt of alcohol. He did not go to the toilet for the past three days as his leg was injured, and when he fell down in an attempt to come out of his room, he passed urine and stool.

He had lost around 30kg over one-and-a-half years.

He was brought in that condition to the university hospital within 10 minutes of the incident, a member of inquiry committee said. He added that there was also alleged negligence on the part of chief medical officer who was instructed to form a protocol for the hospital during emergencies after a girl of AT 10 girls’ hall “attempted suicide”.

“The protocol was not developed,” he said.

Another member said, “There was nothing like medical negligence as the attending doctor did all was needed to be done. We got the medical note and according to that, the patient was at the final stage which is referred to as ‘gasping’. Our team also checked the oxygen cylinder and the mask that was used and they were found to be alright.”

A five-member inquiry committee was formed on October 5 to inquire into the circumstances under which the patient had been brought to the hospital from RCC II boys’ hall.

The chief medical officer was suspended as a consequence on October 6.

“The suspension order was passed by the university administration, not by the committee. If the overall report negates medical negligence, the suspension has to be revoked,” added the member.

“We maintain a medical note. The doctor suspected that the deceased had liver cirrhosis and accordingly tried to treat the patient,” said a university medical officer.