SA doctors in tiff to take Mandela off life-support

Specialists at a Pretoria hospital have clarified that it is impossible to wean former South African president, Nelson Mandela, off the ventilator.

News24 reports that court papers stated that Mandela is in a permanent vegetative state and that doctors suggested his life support should be turned off.

Mandela has been in the Medi-Clinic Heart Hospital since 8 June, when he was admitted with a recurring lung infection.

The chief executive of the Faculty of Consulting Physicians of South Africa said that it can be difficult for an elderly person to recover after being weaned off from mechanical ventilation.

Dr Adri Kok, who has no connection with Mandela's treatment, reportedly said that putting a person on life support machines indicates a very poor prognosis for recovery because it means that the person is either too weak or too sick to breathe on his own, reports added.

Mandela's wife, Graca Machel, said Mandela's condition was sometimes uncomfortable but seldom in pain.

Denis Goldberg, who was convicted along with Mandela, visited him on Monday and said that he is definitely not unconscious and could still recognize people.