Deposed Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, who contends he is too ill to travel for arraignment on racketeering charges, will remain under round-the-clock care for congestive heart failure, his doctors said.
An ambulance took Marcos home Sunday from the hospital, where his doctors said medication and rest had controlled the life-threatening ailment.A court-appointed doctor concluded in late October that Marcos was well enough to travel. It was not known whether Marcos' hospitalization would affect a court order requiring a trip to New York for an arraignment.
Asked Sunday if the court would order another examination because of Marcos' hospitalization, a spokesman for U.S. Attorney Rudolph Giuliani's office in New York said that he would have no comment.
Marcos left St. Francis Medical Center in a stretcher Sunday afternoon. He didn't acknowledge reporters' questions as he was wheeled to an ambulance.
Doctors said Marcos' health had improved since he was admitted to the hospital Dec. 9, but his heart condition would require a doctor's supervision.
"Initially, congestive heart failure is life-threatening, but his condition has stabilized," said Dr. Calvin Wong, Marcos' cardiologist. "His congestive heart failure has reversed itself. It could recur."
Wong said Marcos has a history of congestive heart failure, which means the heart is unable to pump the amount of blood required by the body.
Wong said he did not know the prognosis for Marcos.