Minor improvement in Rabbi Yosef's condition

Professor Dan Gilon, a cardiology specialist treating Rabbi Ovadia Yosef at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital, reported Saturday of minor improvement in the rabbi's condition.

Gilon added the rabbi responded to the lowering of anesthetic dosage, which was decided on Friday.

  

He also said an infection the rabbi is suffering from is beginning to clear up.

"The rabbi has undergone a quiet Saturday," Gilon said. "His condition is still considered serious but there are several indicators that clearly point to improvement in a number of parameters, the most important of which manifests in more notable signs of consciousness following the discontinuation of anesthetics.

The physician stressed, however, that "this is just the beginning. We'll have to continue to monitor his condition and see how it goes."

His son Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri and others gathered outside Ovadia Yosef's room on Thursday to pray for his health.

The religious leader was admitted to the intensive care unit at the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem on Monday. He was unconscious and was given dialysis treatment.