Doctors Say Sharon Has Only Slim Chance

[ronnykmarshall]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060106/ap_on_re_mi_ea/sharon_medical_12

LONDON - The chances of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon recovering from his massive stroke became even more remote Friday after doctors reported more bleeding in his brain.

Surgeons operated on the 77-year-old premier for five hours Friday to remove the blood and relieve swelling in his brain — life-threatening complications that, while not unexpected, make the prospect of survival ever slimmer, experts say.

"It sounds like a last desperate attempt to salvage something, but the prognosis must now be terrible," said Dr. Anthony Rudd, a stroke specialist at St. Thomas' Hospital in London.

[benburch]

1. Are they doing all this heroic intervention...

...because they fear the political consequences of his passing now?

[MrModerate]

2. Naah . . . he's the head of state . . .

They can't just let him go quietly or they'd be pilloried for malpractice.

[DavidDvorkin]

9. No, he's the head of government.

Moshe Katsav, the president of Israel, is the head of state.

But since the PM has the real power and the president is a figurehead, I'm sure you're right. With people like that, their lives don't belong to them if they get seriously ill while in office.

[MrModerate]

10. Picky, picky n/t

[DavidDvorkin]

11. One of my hot buttons

[MrModerate]

12. I'm embarassed to say I didn't know there WAS . . .

a president of Israel. I guess I'd better check out the actual form of government or I'm likely to embarass myself again over the next few days when this topic is being discussed

[Posteritatis]

6. Politically speaking, he's already passed

If Sharon survives this, unless it's a really miraculous, Herculean recovery in which he gets his physical and mental faculties back, he's done as Israel's prime minister. I can't see him not resigning (or being resigned) should he come out of all this mostly alright.

As long as there's a chance of survival or recovery (and the patient doesn't clearly wish otherwise), most physicians are going to do whatever they can to help bring a patient back around, even if the odds seem slim.

I'm never going to fault a doctor or surgeon for those kinds of interventions.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

3. He's Already Dead.....

I'm having definite flashbacks to the movie "Dave." Read somewhere that he died on Wednesday/Thursday, and that they don't want to release it until the weekend, so as not to upset the markets, and give themselves more time to put a transition team in place.

I know, I know....tinfoil hat. Sad that it's come to the point where you can't even trust anything which comes out of an officials' mouth, and that you in fact believe the exact opposite.

If there is any truth to this "rumor," my prediction is they announce his death After Shabbat ends, which would be late Saturday/early Sunday here in the U.S. If he is still alive, then he should make it through the weekend. But since only a small group of people really truly know what's going on, I wouldn't put something like this past them, and I will find it incredibly suspicious if it "supposedly" and coincidentally happens over the weekend, when markets are closed, etc.

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. Plus the Jews have to be buried before sundown

of the day you die. Makes it a little difficult to work out a peaceful transition of government in less then a day. So they definitely need to keep Ari on ice just a little longer.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

5. Not Sure If It's Quite That Strict

I don't think it has to necessarily be the same day, although I believe it is by the next day at sundown. Ultimately, it would be as quick as arrangements have been made, and anyone who wants to attend the service is able to get to town. My friend's dad recently died on a Wednesday afternoon, but they did not even get to meet with the funeral director until the following morning, at which point they had to make it for Friday, and the service was presided over by an Orthodox Rabbi.

That was actually another reason given, saying that some world leaders have already been notified, so they can have time to make plans for travel to Israel, and wouldn't have to rush to do so before the weekend. Wouldn't want Shrubbie to have to give up his weekend rest, now would we?

It's safe to say they won't announce he died on Shabbat, because that would sound too morbid, so my guess is Sunday. I'd be willing to bet money that if he's already dead, the announcement will come late Saturday afternoon or early Sunday here in the U.S. Perhaps just in time for the various ignorant talk shows to devote their lame discussions to it.

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. For the PM of Israel it is.

I grew up around a lot of Jewish people. It's a big deal.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

8. That Seals It....

He's already dead. They'll announce it Saturday/Sunday, but not on Shabbat.

So does that mean they'll bury him, and have the service later? It would obviously be impossible for someone like King george to make it there before Sundown, especially since Israel's so many hours ahead of us. I suppose if he dies on Saturday evening in Israel, and had the service on Sunday afternoon, then Shrub might be able to make it.

[hippiechick]

15. Will Unca Dick attend the funeral in his lovely parka ?

Or will the US send a little more dignified of an envoy ?



:shrug:

[KittyWampus]

14. Actually, I could swear I heard the words "organ failure" on NPR Wednesday

[Shine]

13. I wish him a smooth and peaceful transition.

O8)

[boilinmad]

16. dr. frist

Has anyone called in the honorable Dr. Frist to give his diagnosis? He can do it via video..........................