Hahn Reportedly Making ‘Excellent Progress’

In a brief statement devoid of medical details, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn’s doctor reported Monday that Hahn is making “excellent progress” in recovering from a stroke seven weeks ago and could return to work “in the near future.”

The statement was confined to generalities, and Dr. Michael Perlman was unavailable to answer questions, keeping information on Hahn’s condition minimal and strictly controlled for all but family and some staff members. The extent of Hahn’s physical impairment remains unknown to the public.

The statement, issued by Perlman from Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital in Inglewood, also said that Hahn, 66, will remain hospitalized there for up to six more weeks. After his eventual discharge, Hahn will undergo outpatient rehabilitation for an indeterminate period, the statement also indicated.

Perlman’s office referred all press inquiries to Hahn deputies Mas Fukai and Dan Wolf. Both Fukai and Wolf gave no additional details but expressed satisfaction that Perlman’s statement laid to rest three key questions about Hahn: the timing of his recovery, whether he will return to assume his board duties and how much longer he will be hospitalized.

But Perlman’s statement failed to specify some key factors: parts of the body affected by the stroke; its lasting effects; whether it will interfere with Hahn’s ability to function as a public official; the kind of therapy he is receiving; what is meant by “excellent progress,” and what dates are meant by the assurance of a return to work “in the near future?”

Hahn deputies Fukai and Wolf said the 2nd District supervisor asked that Perlman issue the statement to respond to two events last week. First, on Feb. 23, Board of Supervisors Chairman Mike Antonovich said Hahn “may not return” to duty after 34 years in office. Antonovich said he had no specific information to back up his speculation. On Monday, after hearing Perlman’s statement, Antonovich said he is “elated” that “Hahn is making progress in his battle to overcome the effects of a stroke.”

The second event was the publication of a Los Angeles Times editorial last Thursday calling on the normally accessible Hahn to make himself available to county officials and reporters as soon as possible so his constituents can be assured he is on the road to recovery.

Since Hahn suffered his stroke Jan. 11 while attending a function in his district, he has been virtually unavailable to anyone except his family and Fukai, his recently appointed chief deputy. Last Friday, for the first time since his hospitalization, Hahn also met with press deputy Wolf, who has been the prime source of information on the supervisor’s condition for the past seven weeks.

Hahn, who is up for reelection next year, has not agreed to meet or speak with reporters. Wolf said Hahn, shortly after the stroke, first lost and then regained the use of muscles on the left side of his face. Fukai, who meets with Hahn for about half an hour every day, said Hahn speaks normally but in a softer tone and is under the care of a speech therapist.

Asked whether Hahn is refusing to speak to reporters or is being prevented from doing so by doctors, Wolf said, “The doctors are certainly discouraging it at this point, and Kenny is going along with their sensibilities.”

Last week, for the first time, it was disclosed that Hahn has been unable to walk since his hospitalization and uses a wheelchair. Wolf said that when he saw Hahn late last week, Hahn said he had stood by himself for the first time but had not yet regained the ability to walk.

Wolf added that Hahn was made aware of the content of Perlman’s statement but was not involved in drafting it.

Specifically, Perlman’s statement said: “Physicians at Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital are reporting that Supervisor Kenneth Hahn is making excellent progress at the hospital’s stroke rehabilitation unit. They expect him to continue in inpatient rehabilitation for an additional four to six weeks, followed up with outpatient therapy.

“It is anticipated at this current rate of improvement that he will be able to resume his duties on the County Board of Supervisors in the near future.”

A spokesman for Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital said that Perlman was warned that reporters would have additional questions about the statement but that the doctor insisted that all inquiries be referred to Hahn’s office.