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Latest update: 12/12/2009
- Johnny Hallyday
Hallyday back in induced coma after 'botched' surgery
French rock legend Johnny Hallyday has been put back into a drug-induced coma in a Los Angeles hospital, where he is recovering from surgery. His son said Hallyday was doing "very well."
By FRANCE 24 (text)
French rock legend Johnny Hallyday was once again in an artificial coma Friday, after claims that he suffered a botched operation for a slipped disc in a Paris clinic favoured by celebrities.
The 66-year-old singer fell seriously ill on Monday and was taken to a Los Angeles hospital where doctors put him in a drug-induced coma as he recovered from surgery to deal with an infection from an earlier operation.
On Thursday Hallyday had woken for a time, but a spokesman told AFP he had been put back into an artificial coma "to prevent suffering and enable him to be treated."
'Botched operation'
A November operation to fix French rock legend Johnny Hallyday's slipped disc had been "botched", his producer Jean-Claude Camus said.
Doctors in Los Angeles detected lesions from the surgery in Paris that required reparative surgery to his spine.
"We were told the operation [in Paris] was botched," Camus told AFP Friday. "The surgeons in Los Angeles [who re-operated overnight on Wednesday] said they were outraged."
Camus said he thought Hallyday had begun his US tour far too soon, and "with the permission of the Parisian surgeon."
"The doctor assured me that there was no problem with Johnny going on this trip, which amazed me. I have suffered slipped discs myself," he said.
Tour 66 suspended?
Hallyday was preparing to perform to huge audiences during a major tour, billed as his last, when he travelled to his home in Los Angeles.
His "Tour 66" show was scheduled to return to the stage on January 8 in the northern French city of Amiens.
Camus questioned the wisdom of Hallyday continuing the tour.
"I will only let this happen if the doctors say it's OK," Camus told RTL Radio.
While he has never been taken seriously abroad, Hallyday is by far the best known rocker in France, with a colourful rock 'n' roll lifestyle.
Dubbed the French Elvis, Hallyday has sold more than 100 million records including a string of hits that stretch over more than four decades.
The singer has suffered several health problems since he was operated on for colon cancer during the summer.
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Comments (6)
comci-coma
That must be is first non-alcoholic coma ! way to go Johnny.
Johnny Hallyday
I always thought he was in a coma anyway
Johnny Hallyday
Let me relieve you of some of your ignorance, Anonyme. Johnny Hallyday is a French music star -THE French music star, some would say - who has had an enduring 50-year career at the top of the French pop/rock music scene. He is also an accomplished actor, who has appeared in over 40 films. He is currently in the middle of a "final" tour of France, Belgium and Switzerland. He has homes in France, Switzerland . . .and the United States. Los Angeles. to be exact. Which is where this latest (emergency) surgery took place. By the way, he has no clue who you are, either.
US Health Care
From another US reader . . . I understand he happened to be in LA when the problem surfaced, not that he chose to come to LA for care. Yes, health care is excellent for those who have it. France, UK, etc. spend half the amount per person we pay in the US, but have excellent care. I have first-hand experience in both the US and UK. If the US spent what other developed countries spend, we would have an extra 1.4 trillion dollars in the economy each year. National health care works, and it is well overdue in the US.
wait what about socialized medicine
this whole article and NOTHING about the fact that france has socialized medicine? I thought according to obama and the dems our healthcare sucks and we need to have the same system here???? hmmmm...hmmmmm
American medical care
hmmmm. I thought the medical care in the US was the worst in the world.
Healthcare in U.S.
They always come here. Why not Russia, Albania, Britain, Morocco, Ireland...... You get the idea. America sucks until you need our power or innovation. Hallyday took the extra 5 hour flight from New York to get to LA, he could have had excellent work done on the East coast but he did not. Why? Because he had choices!!! Why did he have choices? Free enterprise!!! Why was there free enterprise? No socialism!!! Are you getting this World!!! Are getting this Liberals in America!!! By the way I have no clue who this Hallyday person is.
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