Sharon medical team meets long-term care specialists

Ariel Sharon’s doctors held talks with two specialists from a long-term care facility today, a hospital spokeswoman said, but there was no word on whether he would be moved in the near future.

Sharon, who has been in hospital in a coma since suffering a stroke on January 4, remained in critical but stable condition, said Yael Bossem-Levy, a spokeswoman for Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem.

Although Sharon has responded to pain stimulus, he has shown no signs of waking up, even after being taken off sedatives last week.

Two intensive care specialists from Loewenstein Hospital Rehabilitation Centre, a long-term facility in central Israel, participated in today’s meeting with Sharon’s doctors, Bossem-Levy said.

“Sharon’s doctors wanted to get advice from Beit Loewenstein about long-term care,” said Ron Krumer, a hospital spokesman.

Hospital officials would not say if this was an indication that Sharon would be moved to the facility. Israel Radio said there were no immediate plans to do so.

The Israeli daily Haaretz quoted experts describing Sharon’s condition as a vegetative state, saying he could still wake up, but it might be weeks or months from now.

Hospital officials declined to comment on the report.