Tufts nephrologist Dr. Daniel Weiner weighs in on the Pope’s serious health issues

BOSTON. WELL, JEN, DOCTORS HERE IN BOSTON ALSO KEEPING A WATCHFUL EYE ON HIS HOLY FATHER’S HEALTH UPDATES AS THE 88 YEAR OLD IS BEING TREATED AT A HOSPITAL IN ROME FOR PNEUMONIA AND A COMPLEX LUNG INFECTION. HIS DOCTORS, NOW SAYING HE IS SHOWING EARLY SIGNS OF KIDNEY FAILURE BUT SAY IT IS UNDER CONTROL. THE POPE’S MEDICAL TEAM SAYING THEY’RE WAITING TO SEE HOW HIS HOLINESS RESPONDS TO TREATMENT, SAYING HIS PROGNOSIS REMAINS GUARDED. WE SPOKE WITH A NEPHROLOGIST, A DOCTOR WHO DIAGNOSIS AND TREATS KIDNEY CONDITIONS HERE IN BOSTON WHO IS NOT TREATING THE POPE, BUT EXPLAINS THE POPE’S AGE AND UNDERLYING HEALTH ISSUES ARE ALL FACTORS BEING MONITORED. PEOPLE CAN BOUNCE BACK. AND HE’S, I’M SURE, GETTING THE BEST MEDICAL CARE IN THE WORLD THAT’S AVAILABLE. BUT WHEN YOU TAKE SOMEBODY WHO’S OLDER AND MORE VULNERABLE AND YOU START ADDING DIFFERENT COMPLICATIONS, THAT CAN TAKE A REAL TOLL AND THAT CAN AFFECT PROGNOSIS. THE POPE’S MEDICAL TEAM SAYS HE’S ALERT, SITTING UPRIGHT IN A CHAIR, WORKING, EVEN MAKING JOKES WITH DOCTORS THAT HAVE BEEN TREATING HIM. NOW, HIS HOLINESS, EVEN CELEBRATING MASS TODAY WITH THE DOCTORS AND STAFF WHO ARE HELPING HIM

Tufts nephrologist Dr. Daniel Weiner weighs in on the Pope’s serious health issues

“People can bounce back and I’m sure he’s getting the best medical care in the world that is available but when you take somebody who is older and vulnerable and adding different complications, that can take a really toll and that can affect prognosis,” Weiner said.

BOSTON —

“People can bounce back and I’m sure he’s getting the best medical care in the world that is available but when you take somebody who is older and vulnerable and adding different complications, that can take a really toll and that can affect prognosis,” Weiner said.