World News
Sharon's condition unlikely to improve, say doctors
By IANS
Feb 7, 2006, 02:53

There has been no improvement in the condition of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and is unlikely to regain consciousness, doctors not connected with his treatment said Monday.

Sharon, who is in a "vegetative state" following a brain haemorrhage earlier this month, is still breathing with the help of a respirator, Haaretz newspaper reported.

Sources in the Hadassah Hospital stated his condition as "serious but stable."

"His age, his medical background and the dramatic nature of his stroke are not in his favour," said Avraham Lazari, deputy director of the Re'ut rehabilitation hospital and an expert on rehabilitative medicine.

However, he said people in Sharon's condition do occasionally regain consciousness.

"The tendency worldwide is to wait for six months to say whether the patient will regain full consciousness or not," Lazari said.

Sharon's own doctors have not said anything on the likelihood of his regaining consciousness.

A vegetative patient can breathe on his own, go through regular sleep cycles and may even make occasional involuntary movements such as opening his eyes, but is not aware of his surroundings and cannot speak or heed instructions.

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