Erap gets extended hospital stay

Former President Joseph Estrada, who underwent treatment for an infected right eye was granted an extension of his stay at the San Juan Medical Center yesterday.

His lawyer, former Senator Rene Saguisag, said a formal request for an extension of Estrada’s stay at the hospital was supposed to be submitted yesterday, but the court told them they could just file it the next day.

"The court understands," Saguisag said.

He pointed out that should an operation be performed to remove excess skin from Estrada’s eyelids, the most he would stay at the hospital for post-operative care, would be three days or just over the weekend.

Dr. Lorenzo Hocson, Estrada’s personal physician and director of the San Juan Medical Center, appeared in court yesterday and gave a detailed medical report on the treatment the former President received at the hospital.

The report, which was also signed by Dr. Eduardo Sarabia, head of the ophthalmology department, recommended that Estrada’s stay be extended for two or three days, or until Sunday, depending on the healing rate.

Hocson, which is also Estrada’s cousin, told the court that infection in the right eye was successfully controlled by antibiotics. Doctors earlier said Estrada’s eye infection could have been the result of an insect bite.

Sarabia earlier said that if the eye infection is left untreated, it could leave Estrada blind or could even kill him as the infection could spread to the brain.

Hocson said Estrada can now undergo surgery to correct his condition, called dermatochalasis, or the sagging of the eyelids caused by excess skin, which is common to old people.

He also told the court that both eyes should be operated on to ensure symmetry.

"We cannot just operate on the infected eye. The correct surgical procedure is that we have to operate on both eyelids to ensure symmetry. Para hindi maging kirat si Presidente," Hocson told the court. "This type of surgery also needs at least three days of post-operation care."

According to Hocson, doctors will still have to check on the condition of Estrada’s right eye before proceeding with the eyelid surgery.

"We will conduct an examination again to determine whether we can operate on him today or tomorrow morning. We cannot operate until we are satisfied that the infection has been sustained," he said.

Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio said that an eye infection is a serious matter, the prosecution panel is not opposing Estrada’s treatment and hospital stay.

"Infection of the eye has to be addressed by competent doctors. No one would want anybody to go blind. We wish that the former President would eventually recover fully from this ailment," he said.