ABC News
Sharon Reportedly Moves His Right Hand
Sharon Reportedly Moves His Right Hand, Begins Breathing on Own After Docs Bring Him Out of Coma
By AMY TEIBEL
JERUSALEM Jan 9, 2006 (AP) Doctors started weaning Prime Minister Ariel Sharon off the sedatives keeping him in a coma Monday, and the stricken leader immediately began breathing on his own and reportedly moved his right hand.
Outside experts said that while independent breathing meant Sharon had better chances for survival, it gave no indication about his other physical or mental capacities in the wake of his massive stroke Wednesday. Doctors induced the coma Thursday to give Sharon's brain time to heal from the stroke and subsequent surgeries.
The process of lifting Sharon, 77, out of that coma could take anywhere from several hours to days, Hadassah Hospital director Dr. Shlomo Mor-Yosef said. Doctors made the decision to lift the anesthesia after a round of consultations Monday.
Hadassah Hospital officials would not comment on the Channel 10 TV report that Sharon moved his right hand. It would be more significant if Sharon moved his left hand, since that is controlled by the right side of the brain, where Sharon's stroke occurred.
Hospital officials said they would not discuss Sharon's condition until a Monday afternoon briefing.
"As soon as we started reducing the drugs … the prime minister started to breathe independently, although he is still hooked up to a respirator that is used as an aid," Mor-Yosef said, adding that Sharon remained in critical condition.
Outside experts have said doctors should have a good idea of the extent of Sharon's brain damage by the end of the day. One of Sharon's neurosurgeons said it was unlikely he could function as prime minister again.
Experts said the prime minister suffered most of the damage to the right side of his brain, so he has a greater chance of regaining his speech and comprehension, which are controlled by the left side.
After withdrawing the sedatives, doctors will pass their assessment of brain damage to Attorney General Meni Mazuz, who then will decide whether to declare the prime minister permanently incapacitated.
Doctors are awakening Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon out of a drug induced coma to asess the damage to his brain from a major stroke. Doctors reported that he has started to move some limbs and is breathing spontaneously on his own, but say that he is still on a respirator and still in critical condition. "In a test of (his reaction) to pain, we noticed that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon slightly moved his right arm and right leg," said Dr. Shlomo Mor-Yosef, director of Jerusalem's Hadassah hospital. "The process of waking him out of the coma could take anywhere from several hours to several days" said Mor-Yosef.

Sharon's blood pressure rose slightly during stimulation which doctors call "a postive sign". Dr Felix Umansky, the chief neurosurgeon treating Sharon, said “Once he talks to us ... and there are no other infections I will be willing to say that he is completely out of danger."

Although he is moving and breathing spontaneously on his own, this does not give any indication as to his other physical or mental capacities.

Sharon was rushed to the hospital on Wednesday after "feeling unwell". Doctors later determined that he had a major stroke.