Test Shows Activity in Sharon’s Brain Lobes
Excerpts;
“A medical test showed activity in both of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s brain lobes and his condition remains critical but stable, hospital officials said Saturday.”
“Experts said activity in both lobes didn’t indicate anything about the extent of the brain damage Sharon may have suffered as a result of his devastating stroke on Jan. 4”
“‘It’s very worrisome that he hasn’t woken from his coma,’ Ifergan added. ‘Coma reflects brain damage. (But) it’s hard to talk about prospects for awakening without knowing the patient.'”
“The terse statement released by hospital spokeswoman Yael Bossem-Levy after the end of the Jewish Sabbath said an electroencephalogram (EEG) conducted on Friday, ‘showed both lobes of the brain were functioning, a reflection of the prime minister’s condition.’ There was no elaboration.”
“The 77-year-old leader’s failure to wake up could be a sign that his comatose condition is due to the stroke itself, and not the sedatives.”
“On Friday, Channel 1 TV cited one of Sharon’s neurosurgeons, Dr. Felix Umansky, as saying he was optimistic Sharon would emerge from his coma within 10 days.”
“But some outside experts have said the prognosis for recovery looked poor, given the severity of the stroke and the extended coma.”
Excerpts;
“Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon’s condition was said to be ‘very worrying, even frightening’ by medical sources last night as hopes he might recover from a massive stroke appeared to be diminishing.”
“Despite the reduction of drugs keeping him in a medically induced coma, the country’s leader and most popular politician has shown no signs of waking up.”
“Officials at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem, where Mr Sharon, 77, has been treated since suffering the stroke on 4 January, and doctors were quoted by Army Radio as saying they were becoming increasingly concerned by his lack of movement.”
“Israel Radio quoted medical sources as saying that ‘the situation is worrying, very worrying even frightening … the moment of truth is approaching’“.
“However Hadassah’s spokesman, Ron Krumer, said that although Mr Sharon had not opened his eyes, the timing of when that happens ‘differs from one patient to another'”.
“But it is becoming apparent that Mr Sharon’s treatment team is not publicly conveying the gravity of his situation and that parts of the Israeli media and public are trying to deny the severity of the position.”
For comprehensive reports on PM Sharon’s condition and treatments, click here, here, here and here.
Commentary;
This author is no expert in medical or brain conditions, strokes, diagnosis or surgery. But something seems to stink here. This author has a real hard time believing that mental error or concern about cost precluded having the one test which would have properly diagnosed the Prime Minister’s condition and would have led to treatment, i.e. something other than blood thinners after the first stroke. Such treatment could well have the precluded the second, ore serious stroke.
And what stinks to this author is the perception of spin, spun totally out of control. What’s meant here? Kadima was perceived to be “the Big Bang” which would insure Sharon’s reelection and so various Leftwingers; Peres, Itzik, Ramon as well as HaNegbi, Olmert, Hirschorn, Mofaz and others latched themselves to a star. They left their respective parties, perhaps burning bridges behind them. This despite Israel’s past history regarding new All Star Parties, that they tend to fizzle out by election day.
Then Sharon’s poor health comes up in the first stroke. The word just couldn’t be permitted to go out to the people as to the true extent of the Prime Minister’s condition because of the high risk to both Sharon’s political future and to these Stars, or rather divisive, egotistical loose cannons, of losing and being left hung out dry and left out of the power which they so crave.
In short, one could perceive of the Prime Minister’s condition being mistreated for the sake of political spin.
If such is proven to be fact, then the Doctors involved who took deep risks with a Head of State’s health should be totally and permanently barred from practicing medicine and the politicians, close associates and spinners should be tried by a tribunal, found guilty and completely and permanently barred from any further position at any level of government. MB