| Jakarta, Jan 8 (ANTARA) - The health of former president Soeharto who was rushed to Pertamina hospital in South Jakarta for anemia and severe edema last Friday, got worse on Tuesday.
Dr Mardjo Soebiandono, head of the presidential medical team, said the fluid in Soeharto's lungs had increased and his hemoglobin level had dropped from 8.3 to 7.6 gram percent although he had been given blood transfusions since Monday.
His health was said to be improving on Saturday evening after it was widely reported earlier in the day he was in a critical condition. He had undergone a dialysis and received a blood transfusion. Doctors also managed to pump excess fluid out of his body.
On Tuesday, however, according to Dr Mardjo, more fluid had settled in Soeharto's lungs and there were traces of blood in his feces and urine.
"A 'Tissue Doppler Imaging' test this morning indicated dis-synchronization of Soeharto's heart beats," Mardjo said, adding that the medical team would carry out a "thalium scan" test with radio-nuclear technology and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) later.
Meanwhile, Wismoyo Sunu, a cardiologist who is also treating Soeharto said CRT is a cardiac pace-maker technology to stabilize the movements of the right and left muscles of the heart.
The former strong man was rushed to Pertamina hospital last Friday after suffering from anemia and low blood pressure due to heart, lung and kidney problems.
The former New Order ruler had been in and out of hospital for many times since he was toppled in 1998.
He made headlines when he had a mild stroke and was rushed to Pertamina hospital on July 20, 1999. He returned to the same hospital for a six-day treatment of an intestinal bleeding on August 14, 1999.
Back in August 1994, Soeharto underwent medical examinations at the Gatot Subroto Army hospital, where it was discovered he had kidney stones. He also underwent a three-day medical check up at a cardiac hospital in the German spa town of Bad Oeyhausen in July 1996; and in December 1997 he suffered from exhaustion and was forced to cancel planned overseas trips.
On February 14, 1999, Attorney General Marzuki Darusman named him suspect in a widening corruption probe and power abuse. He summoned him for questioning on February 14, 1999 but the former general failed to show up.
Soeharto had several times defied the attorney general's office summons for health reasons. His medical team said the former president was unfit for an investigation. This prompted the attorney general's office to request a team of doctors from the Cipto Mangungkusumo hospital to examine his health.
The team said that Soeharto was fit for investigation but underlined that it had no guarantee that he would be able speak out what he had in mind.
In June, 2000, a team of investigators of the Attorney General's Office asked 32 questions to Soeharto at his Cendana residence but the former president answered most of the questions with " I do not remember." He was then sent to the "Yayasan Harapan Kita" cardiac hospital for a brain check in case he was suffering from brain disorder or to make sure that he was not pretending not to remember anything when being questioned.
In the meantime, Soehato's lawyer Juan Filix Tampubolon said the medical test by his team of 24 personal doctors indicated he had suffered brain damage. His brain power was recorded at 15, lower than the normal 36. He could not associate one matter with another and could not answer complicated questions.
In the face of public pressure, however, the government on August 3, 2000 formally charged him with graft. His first trial was held by the South Jakarta district court in August 31. He was accused of having unlawfully collected Rp1.3 trillion and US$419 million through seven foundations he had led while he was president.
However, the court delayed Soeharto's trial because of his unfavorable health condition . The Attorney General's Office team of doctors issued a recommendation that Soeharto was not fit physically and mentally to sit in the court room for trial because of a permanent brain damage.
Following his several appearances early in May 2006, including in a meeting with Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew and Malaysia's Mahathir, Attorney Ganeral Abdul Rahman Saleh said Soeharto should be re-examined to determine if he was able to stand trial.
But not long thereafter, the Indonesian former strong man was again rushed to the hospital for intestinal bleeding. He had to undergo a surgery to have 40 centimeters of his colon cut off to stop the bleeding.
In the wake of Soeharto's health problem, the attorney general's office dropped corruption charges against him in May 2006.
Coming to power in 1965, the Soeharto was forced to step down at the height of calls for reforms in May 1998 after 32 years in power.
Now, Soeharto, who turns 87 on June 8, 2008, is back in hospital with health getting worse. (A014/A/HNG/A014) (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 09-01-2008 00:11:36 |
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