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PM Ariel Sharon (AP file)
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| By israelinsider staff and partners January 5, 2006 |
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PM Ariel Sharon felt ill about 9 pm Wednesday and was rushed to Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem by ambulance, accompanied by his security motorcade. He arrived at the hospital and was taken into the trauma ward on a stretcher.
Initial reports spoke of merely "discomfort in his chest," rather than a more severe stroke. But within half an hour, the head of Hadassah, Dr. Shlomo Mor-Yosef, made before the assembled media the dramatic announcement that Sharon suffered a "significant mental event" -- medical terminology for a more serious stroke. He announced that Sharon had been anaesthetized and respirated.
Several minutes later, Mor-Yosef announced that Sharon had suffered a massive hemorrhage in his brain, and had been rushed to surgery to stop the bleeding. Powers have been temporarily transferred to Vice-Premier Ehud Olmert.
There are unconfirmed reports that his condition deteriorated rapidly inside the hospital, and the intercranial bleeding was revealed by the MRI scan.
From the time he started enroute to the hospital, Sharon made no calls to aides or to other political leaders.
He was accompanied by his sons Gilad and Omri, and Gilad's wife Inbal, as well as his personal physician, Dr. Shlomo Segev, and political aides.
Security forces have been ringing the hospital since his admission
Prime ministerial powers has been transferred to Vice-Premier Ehud Olmert, Sharon's Cabinet Secretary Yisrael Maimon announced. The powers could last for up to 100 days according to Israeli law. The situation is complicated by elections planned for March 28.
Olmert is now Acting Prime Minister and protected accordingly by Israeli security forces.
Sharon has been in surgery since midnight. Various medical sources interviewed on Israeli media speak of a "complicated" and potentially protracted surgery on Sharon's brain, with a "low" likelihood that the Prime Minister will return to normal functioning. Others described his situation as "grave." Other reporters said that the general understanding of those closest to Sharon at the hospital is that "only a miracle" will save his life.
Fox News reports that the hemorrhage was centered on the brain stem, which medical experts quoted on Israel TV identify as being particularly "dangerous" to Sharon's life and requiring an especially "complicated" operation. But Channel Two, after checks, said that medical sources at the hospital said this report was incorrect, but also that the Prime Minister's condition was "not good."
Shortly after 1 am, Sharon's personal physician, Dr. Segev told reporters "the surgery is going as planned. We need to be patient. I have nothing else to add."
PM Spokesman Raanan Gissin said, "Once the operation ends, the public will be notified. Until then, I suggest not to engage in speculation." According to a medical expert quoted by the Jerusalem Post to estimate the risks of the surgery, the doctor replied, "Let's be optimistic, some people survive it." The prime minister's close associates said of his condition, according the Channel Two: "Hope for a miracle."
At 2:06, Channel Ten reported that doctor's said that the bleeding was stopped and, associates said, "he will live." But these reports have not been confirmed nor is their confirmation that the surgery has ended.
As dawn broke in Israel, doctors announced that the blood flow had not been stopped and that there was a need for continuing surgery.
At 9:15 am, Dr. Mor-Yosef announced that the bleeding in Sharon's brain had been stopped, his vital signs were stable, and that Sharon had been moved to the Intensive Care Ward. But doctors expressed grave concern about whether his brain had suffered irreversible damage.
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