Doctors treating Ariel Sharon at Hadassah University Hospital, said Monday that the Israeli prime minister had started breathing on his own after his sedation was reduced but his condition remains critical and he was still hooked up to a respirator. Later, Hadassah Director Shlomo Mor Yosef told reporters that Sharon slightly moved his right arm and leg in response to stimulation. The response constitutes a "very important" sign, but it remains too early to talk about cognitive abilities,” Mor Yosef said.
Earlier it was reported that doctors intend to gradually bring Sharon out of his medically induced coma. In order to rouse Sharon, the medical staff stopped the inflow of anesthetic drugs into the Israeli prime minister's body.
The decision to try to awaken Sharon was taken after a brain scan Sunday showed that the swelling of the brain had gone down, intra-cranial and blood pressure were within normal range, and that cerebral fluid was draining well.
If the process goes as planned, Sharon's physicians will try to determine how much brain damage the he suffered from his massive stroke and hemorrhage.
