Sai Baba critical, no plans to shift him to home

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The condition of spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba remains critical and there is no proposal to shift him from the hospital to his residence, doctors attending on him said on Sunday.

According to doctors at Sri Sathya Sai Super Speciality hospital at Puttaparthi, where the 85-year-old Baba has been under treatment for the last 20 days, he remained on the life support system.

Three Indian American physicians, who are experts in pulmonology and critical care, examined the Baba.

They, along with hospital director A.N. Safaya, Director of Medical Education, Department of Medical and Health, Ravi Raj and other doctors addressed reporters at the hospital.

Ravi Raj, who is heading a team of doctors deputed by the Andhra Pradesh government, said the condition of Baba has somewhat worsened during the last three days.

"While some parameters are stable, others are not. He has a liver problem, suffers from severe jaundice and his conscious levels are not satisfactory," said Raj.

He remained on a ventilator to support his respiratory function while doctors continued CRRT (continuous renal replacement therapy) to support his kidney function.

Amid the growing demand by devotees of Baba that he be shifted from hospital to his residence and ashram Prasanthi Nilayam, Safaya said this was not possible in view of his critical condition.

"We have not received any proposal," he said when asked to comment on the statement by Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust that Baba may be shifted to his ashram in a fortnight.

Ravi Raj said shifting Sai Baba would not be good for him considering his condition.

He also revealed that Baba was admitted to hospital on March 28 with irregular heart beat. "The heart has temporarily stopped. Doctors resuscitated him and planted a pacemaker," he said.

The doctors held the press conference amid growing criticism from Baba's devotees for not making public the details with regard to his condition.

Some devotees have even approached court and the state human rights commission, seeking a direction to the hospital authorities to come out with facts about Baba's health.