Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who was under sedation on Thursday after undergoing surgery for a massive brain haemorrhage, was unlikely to return to work, the director of Jerusalem's Hadassah hospital said.
Shlomo Mor-Yosef told reporters that Sharon had retained brain function but would remain sedated for at least another 48 hours as doctors tried to keep cranial pressure low.
"I must point out that, regarding the future, under the current circumstances it will not be possible," Mor-Yosef said when asked if Sharon could be expected eventually to return to work.
"His brain is functioning," Mor-Yosef said, but added that due to Sharon's sedation, he had not responded to stimuli.
"This treatment will last anything between 48 and 72 hours and then we will try to gradually wake the prime minister," Shlomo Mor-Yosf said.
"This is a lengthy process. It won't be in the coming hours. It will be at least 48 hours after the prime minister's emergence from surgery," he said.
Mor-Yosef said the operation on Sharon had focused on the right side of his brain, and that he was paralysed during the procedure. "The paralysis was a paralysis that we, the doctors, created," he said.
{{/usCountry}}Mor-Yosef said the operation on Sharon had focused on the right side of his brain, and that he was paralysed during the procedure. "The paralysis was a paralysis that we, the doctors, created," he said.
{{/usCountry}}