World News

Deteriorating Sharon in critical condition

Brian Hendler/JTA

By , JTA World News Service

JERUSALEM (JTA) — The life of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon “is definitely in danger,” according to the medical director at Chaim Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan.

Sharon’s condition has been classified as critical, Zeev Rotstein confirmed to reporters on Thursday.

The Israeli media were reporting that Sharon, 85, who has been in a coma-like state since he had a major stroke in January 2006, has only days to live. He was suffering from the failure of multiple organs.

Rotstein said Sharon’s condition has been deteriorating for some time and that now “he has taken a turn for the worse.” The ex-prime minister’s family reportedly has been with him.

Sharon reportedly has been in renal failure for several days and is not receiving dialysis due to his age and condition.

He has been in a state classified as “minimal consciousness” since his massive stroke.Tests conducted one year ago at the Soroka University Medical Center in Beersheba showed that Sharon has significant brain activity, despite being presumed to be in a vegetative state.