Despite rumors that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon briefly opened his eyes on Monday after nearly two weeks in a coma, Sharon's physicians reported that the statements were untrue.
They added that had Sharon in fact opened his eyes, it would not have necessarily meant that he had awoken from his coma, but rather, a reflex often observed in comatose patients may have been the cause.
However, Sharon's relatives claim that he opened his eyes after hearing a recording of his grandson's voice.
They added that he became teary-eyed and then opened his eyes after his son Gilad arrived at his bedside with a cassette tape of his grandson’s voice which was played to Sharon.
Doctors at the Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital in Jerusalem where Sharon is being treated had induced the coma medically after he suffered a severe stoke.
On Sunday, the Israeli prime minister underwent a CT scan, after which doctors inserted a tube through his neck in order to remove the ventilation machine which had assisted him until now to breathe.
Many believe that Sharon is unlikely to regain consciousness after the trying medical ordeal.
One physician treating Sharon told reporters, "Few people of Sharon's age have regained consciousness after such a massive stroke as the one the prime minister had, especially after three emergency operations."
Medical sources suggest that if Sharon's current condition persists into the remainder of the week, doctors may declare him as being in a vegetative state.
The source added that if a patient does regain consciousness, he will most likely "remain severely disabled."
© 2006 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
