Corona being treated for ‘possible heart attack’

Chief Justice Renato Corona. SENATE POOL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Doctors at The Medical City in Pasig City, where Chief Justice Renato Corona has been confined since shortly after midnight Tuesday, said Wednesday the highest magistrate of the land is being treated for a “possible heart attack” and his condition has to be closely monitored for 48 hours.

Speaking to reporters, Dr Eugenio Jose F. Ramos, senior vice president of the hospital’s Medical Services Group, said Corona has to be confined  at the intensive care unit for 48 hours.

At the press conference with endocrinologist Dr. Michael Villa and cardiologist Dr. Mariann Alamajar, Ramos said Corona was being treated for hypoglycema and possible acute “coronary event.”

“Given that his kidney function is poor, he had two bypass surgeries in 1995 and 2008, he had  hypoglycemia yesterday along with his complaint of shortness of breath, and the possibility of an acute coronary event, we had to consider him a high-risk patient,” Ramos said, adding these were the main reasons the chief justice was moved to the ICU early Wednesday for monitoring.

“We find it prudent to keep him there for 48 hours,” he added.

The hospital official said Corona has been diabetic for the past 20 years “with complications involving both kidneys and the heart.”

“His kindey function is poor and he has had two heart bypass surgeries in 1995 and 2008,” he said, stressing it is not prudent for them to allow him to go to the Senate trial.