No barcode injuries noticed on Zara Qairina, doctor testifies

KOTA KINABALU: The trauma team focused on treating life-threatening injuries rather than looking for “barcode injuries” when attending to the late Zara Qairina Mahathir, the Coroner’s Court heard today.

The inquest’s third witness, Dr Janefer Voo, who was the first medical doctor to attend to the 13-year-old when she arrived at the hospital in the early hours of July 16, said the trauma team’s first priority was to prepare a bed and activate a trauma alert.

She also said that in general trauma cases, examples of life-threatening injuries include any penetrating wound to the chest, or bruising to the abdomen or back.

Datuk Ram Singh, who represents one of the five accused teenagers linked to Zara Qairina, questioned the doctor on whether she had noticed any “barcode injuries”.

“I didn’t realise,” she said.

“When the patient arrived, they conducted a quick examination of her hands and arms, where they noticed severe deformity on the left hand and applied a splint.

“The initial injury at that time was diagnosed as closed fractures,” she testified before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.

Ram Singh: What is barcode injuries?

Dr Voo: As far as I know, this injury can be due to sharps and the pattern is like a barcode.

Ram Singh: You have five years in emergency departmet, have you ever experienced barcode injuries? How many times?

Dr Voo: I can’t remember. To be honest most of time, (those injuries found amog) youngsters.

Ram Singh: Why people do barcode on themselves?

Dr Voo: Most of the time it is related to self-harm, according to my experience.

The court adjourns morning session at 12.10pm.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

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