The PNCR this afternoon issued a statement saying that no surgical intervention could be done at this time on its critically ill executive Winston Murray because of the state of his vital signs including, no responses from his brain.
The party said that Murray remains on life support, his family has been briefed and future action will depend on their decisions.
The text of the statement follows:
“The People’s National Congress Reform’s (PNCR) wishes to advise that its Shadow Minister of Finance and long standing member, Mr. Winston Murray remains in a critical condition at the Intensive Care Unit of the Georgetown Hospital.
“After an evaluation conducted by neurosurgeon, Professor Ivor Crandon, this morning, it was determined that no surgical intervention could be done at this time because of the state of his vital signs including, no responses from his brain. In these circumstances Mr. Murray remains on life support at the Georgetown Hospital.
“Mr. Murray’s wife and family have been fully briefed by the Doctors on his present condition and future action will depend on their decisions.
“The PNCR wishes to express its sincere gratitude to all the doctors and medical personnel at the Georgetown Hospital and Dr. Crandon for the medical care that they are continuing to provide Mr. Murray. The Party also expresses its gratitude to all Guyanese at home and abroad who have rallied in support of Mr. Murray’s medical care and recovery. Meanwhile our prayers are being offered for him and his immediate family.
“The Party will continue to keep its members and supporters updated on Mr. Murray’s condition.”
Guyanese neurosurgeon Dr Ivor Crandon arrived in the country this morning on a flight chartered by the government and immediately examined the critically ill PNCR executive Winston Murray.
Murray’s condition at 1.30 pm today was unchanged. The prognosis remains grim.
At midday today, Murray’s colleague Dr Richard Van-West Charles told Stabroek News that Murray’s condition is “critical”.
He further added that Dr Crandon has told them that because of Murray’s current condition he will not be able to undergo surgery. “They are examining him in ICU so we were asked to leave for a short period,” he said.
Murray was still unconscious following cerebral haemorrhaging and remained on a respirator in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH). According to a senior medical source, the unconsciousness was caused by cerebral hemorrhaging.
Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy told Sunday Stabroek yesterday that arrangements were made to fly the neurosurgeon into the country, but the question was, “how do we get him out in time?” Dr Crandon, who is based in Jamaica, has commitments on the island tomorrow.
Dr Crandon was expected to meet with Murray’s local attending physicians and his family to decide on the best treatment option. Prior to him arriving here, the neurosurgeon was consulted and was involved in Murray’s treatment and care since his admission to GPH.
The health minister pointed out that Crandon was, “the doctor of choice for Mr Murray’s colleagues,” adding that government had suggested specialists from Trinidad and Tobago who could have been flown in earlier. “We did not suggest a particular doctor from T&T since there are a few, but we are told that Dr Crandon is the preferred choice,” Ramsammy said.
Ramsammy brushed aside reports of government hesitating to charter the flight for Crandon saying he had been unavailable to travel prior to the arrangements being made. He said the administration is prepared to have Murray flown out of the country if that is what is decided on, adding “we are not imposing, but facilitating.
“There is nothing that overseas treatment can do for Murray that we cannot do here and moving him might not be ideal at this time,” Ramsammy stated. However, he said the doctors treating Murray would have to decide on what happens next.
“He is the same… but the good news is that the doctor would be here to [personally look at him],” Mark Winston Murray told Sunday Stabroek last night outside the ICU. He said the important thing was that his father was alive.
In a statement issued by the Government Information Agency (GINA) yesterday, Ramsammy was quoted as saying that the government is saddened by Murray’s illness. “As Mr Murray struggles for his life, we wish for a positive outcome. Mr Murray has been an important public servant for decades and has made significant contributions to our country,” the statement said.
Ramsammy said the team of doctors was ready to operate on Murray, but after consultations which included Dr Crandon surgery was ruled out and the decision was taken to have him managed medically through life support. According to him, the local medical team, in agreement with Crandon, did not see that anything additional could be done through Crandon’s visit. However, he said no objections were made to the visit.
The minister said that government indicated its full support for Crandon’s visit which was communicated to Opposition Leader Robert Corbin.
Further, Ramsammy said, the consulting doctors have been very open and have not sought to hide the severity of Murray’s clinical condition from his family or his colleagues. He said too that GPH, the Ministry of Health and the total government machinery have been trying to do all it can to support Murray’s recovery.
“We urge every Guyanese to pray and hope for the best for Mr Murray. He deserves the prayers of every Guyanese, regardless of politics, race or religion. Doctors and ordinary citizens alike truly hope for a miracle,” Ramsammy continued.
Murray, 69, collapsed while standing in a line at McDoom, East Bank Demerara, early Thursday evening and gave his car key to a public-spirited citizen whom he told to take him to the Balwant Singh Hospital. He was later transferred to the GPH.
