Vilasrao Deshmukh under observation: Doctors

Union Science and Technology Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, who has been admitted to the Global Hospital in Chennai with a liver ailment, is under observation, hospital authorities said on Tuesday.

"The minister is on two-day observation. Doctors are attending on him," a source at the Global Hospital said, refusing to divulge more information on the status of the 67-year-old Congress leader from Maharashtra.

The hospital authorities did not release any health bulletin, with sources saying they were doing so in deference to the wishes of Deshmukh's family.

Deshmukh, who is suffering from multiple

organ failure, was brought by an air ambulance from Mumbai late Monday night.

Deshmukh was undergoing treatment at Breach Candy in Mumbai, where he was admitted a week ago. He was suffering from cirrhosis of liver and his two kidneys were dysfunctional.

When his condition deteriorated further, he was put on life support systems and it was then decided to shift him to Chennai in an air ambulance, sources said.

Dr Mohammed Rela, a renowned liver transplant specialist, is attending to the Union minister

According to reports, Deshmukh's liver ailment was detected during a routine medical check-up over a year ago. Since then his family has been examining all options, including a liver transplant either abroad or in Chennai or New Delhi.