Doctor: Sharon’s stint as PM over

(VIDEO) Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s condition has not changed overnight and he remains in critical but stable condition, Jerusalem’s Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital announced Sunday morning.

Hadassah’s expert physicians, including Sharon’s surgeons, Felix Umansky and Jose Cohen, met to decide on the next phase in the prime minister’s treatment, and the hospital is expected to brief reporters on his situation in the coming hours. Sharon was taken in for yet another CT scan following the doctor's deliberation. 

Hadassah spokesman Ron Krumer updates reporters (Footage: Channel 2)

Sources who were updated following the consultation earlier said it is possible that Sharon may remain anesthetized for an additional day to assist in his recovery.

One of Sharon's surgeons was quoted by The Associated Press as saying that Sharon's chances of survival are very high, but that his ability to think and reason would be impaired. He also ruled out the possibility of Sharon returning to serve as prime minister.

Sharon’s personal physician, Professor Bolek Goldman, also arrived at the hospital to take part in the consultation.

Hadassah doctors said they may begin gradually reducing Sharon’s anesthesia dosage and eventually wake him up in order to conduct cognitive tests to determine the damage done to the prime minister’s brain.

An official announcement on Sharon’s inability to perform as prime minister would apparently prompt Attorney General Menachem Mazuz to rule that he can no longer serve as prime minister.

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Over the weekend Hadassah doctors expressed cautious optimism after the latest CT scan conducted on Sharon showed a stabilization of the intracranial pressure. Sharon is no longer in imminent life-threatening condition, but, as reported, his condition remains critical.

Praying for Sharon at the Western Wall (Photo: AFP)

Last Wednesday, two weeks after suffering a mild stroke, Sharon was rushed to the hospital with what turned out to be a “massive stroke.” Doctors have been fighting to keep the prime minister alive ever since; the prime minister has been operated on three times and underwent several CT scans.

Sharon’s relatives, including sons Omri and Gilad, as well as close advisers and old friends, have all camped out in the hospital, anxiously awaiting more news on the prime minister’s condition.

Israelis from all over the country arrived at the hospital to show their support, and many made the trip to Sharon’s Sycamore Ranch in the south.

Meital Yasur Beit-Or contributed to the report