Erap needs to be confined for backpains, doc tells Sandigan

Former President Joseph Estrada’s personal physician wants the detained leader to be confined in hospital for at least three days and undergo medical tests to determine why he is suffering from back pain.

Testifying in yesterday’s hearing at the Sandiganbayan, Dr. Lorenzo Hocson told the court that Estrada has been experiencing back pain, shortness of breath and chest pain for the past days.

"He called me up (on the phone) three days ago and he told me that every time he walks, he develops shortness of breathing and occasional chest pain," Hocson told the Sandiganbayan when asked by defense lawyer Jose Alberto Flaminiano about Estrada’s present medical condition.

The defense panel presented Hocson to substantiate their motion asking the court to allow the former president to stay at Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa City during the Holy Week for treatment of his back pain.

Hocson, however, said he preferred that Estrada be examined at San Juan Medical Center, where Hocson is the director.

Hocson said Estrada will have to undergo blood tests, X-ray, pulmonary function tests, electrocardiogram (ECG), and even an echocardiogram (2D-echo).

A 2D-echo is a procedure wherein the patient is made to lie down on a stretcher and a small transducer wand will be moved around his chest to obtain ultrasound images of his heart.

Through X-ray, doctors would be able to check on Estrada’s disks in his spinal column, which serve as protective shock-absorbing pads between the bones of the spine.

In October 2003, Estrada was treated at Asian Hospital with a series of pelvic traction, a procedure in which the patient is made to lie down and a machine pulls the lower half of the body while the upper half is stable, to lessen his lower-back pain because of slipped disks.

"The purpose of the procedure (X-ray) is to see if the condition (of his disks) has progressed or worsened. If it has worsened, surgery may be contemplated," Hocson said.

On the other hand, when asked during cross-examination by Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio, Hocson conceded that he has not personally examined Estrada recently.

He told the court his assessment of Estrada’s medical condition was based only on a phone conversation he had with the former president.