Medical experts are now advising the family of Israel Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon that he needs long term brain injury care following his stroke and brain bleeds (hemorrhage).
While it is not clear from the news reports exactly what his condition is, is he in a coma, persistent vegetative state or minimally conscious, what is clear is that he no longer needs the services of an acute care hospital and needs to be transferred to a long term rehabilitation center.
Sound familiar, you bet, but now that it is the Prime Minister of Israel whose family is faced with this important decision, hopefully this transition from acute care to long term brain injury rehabilitation will receive increased media attention.
It certainly would be useful if the media looked at how the average person and his family is thrown into this decision making process without much support and with little time to make an informed decision. Hopefully the media will also look into the refusal of many health insurance companies to pay for this necessary care.
E mail me to tell me your experiences with long term brain injury rehabilitation services so I can post some of these comments on this brain injury blog. As a member of the New York State Traumatic Brain Injury Services Council, I will also pass your e mails on to the full council and the New York State Commissioner of Health.
More information on: Sharon's doctor's discuss his long term care