Doctor says Mikheil Saakashvili requires immediate surgeries, Empathy Center demands his release at ongoing trial
By Liza Mchedlidze
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
The American doctor, James Kobe, was questioned at the ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili's ongoing trial in the Tbilisi City Court.
According to Kobe, as a result of the MRI study, it was determined that Saakashvili has arthritis in both hip joints, which causes severe pain.
"I had the opportunity to see Mikheil Saakashvili's X-ray images, and this was an important part of my expert report. I examined the patient on October 8. It was noticed that the neck was stiff. There was severe pain, because of which he could not bend his head to the left. Practically, he could not support his left hand and "There was pain as well. An MRI showed arthritis. I saw an x-ray of his hip joint and an MRI scan. These scans showed arthritis in both hip joints," Kobe said.
According to the doctor, Saakashvili needs a surgical operation and if this operation is not performed in time, the situation will become even more complicated and he will not be able to stand up and walk at all.
"The arthritis found may be the result of toxic exposure. Mercury is an element that causes joint damage. He has a damaged intervertebral disc. I think the neck problem, left shoulder and joint problem are the most serious. He needs surgery on the neck and also on the left shoulder joint. If the operations are not performed in time, his movements will be complicated, it will become even more difficult, and he will not be able to stand or walk at all," the doctor said.
According to Mariam Jishkariani, the head of Empathy Center, the neurological and psychiatric diagnoses of Mikheil Saakashvili are the basis for serving the sentence and releasing him in accordance with the order of the Minister of Health. She stated this during the interrogation at the trial.
"The main diagnosis made by us, even at this stage, remains unspecified dementia. According to the order of the Minister of Health of Georgia, this diagnosis is the basis for serving the sentence and releasing him. According to this order, psychiatry is included in this list. This is the most severe diagnosis that has been made and at this point, despite the toxicologist's report, we remain within that code. Dementia caused by intoxication also remains in this order. We will probably have time to talk about intoxication as well, it is necessary to conduct other studies and specify neurotoxic agents. As for the second diagnosis, which was also made by us, it is post-traumatic stress disorder, a victim of torture and inhuman treatment," Jishkariani said.
