Ariel Sharon’s physicians will hold a news conference on Monday, at which time they will present details of the prime minister’s medical condition following a mild stroke he suffered last week. It will mark the first time in Israel that a prime minister’s medical file will be revealed to the public. Sharon’s doctors will reportedly also provide information about his pre-stroke physical condition and reveal his plan for medical treatment, according to the Israeli daily Haaretz.
Unlike many Western countries, the Israeli prime minister is not obliged to reveal his medical condition to the public. But Sharon’s advanced age (78) and obesity (312 pounds on a 5’7” frame), combined with last week’s stroke, have generated public concern that his advisers are seeking to stem before the issue impacts on his chances for reelection in the March elections.
“There is nothing to hide,” said Sharon physician Dr. Shlomo Segev. Sharon’s on-going battle with gout was revealed before the 2001 elections.