Ginsburg has nonsurgical procedure, due for hospital release by end of week

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Wednesday underwent a “minimally invasive” procedure on a bile duct stent and is expected to be released from the hospital by the end of the week, according to a Supreme Court spokeswoman.

Ginsburg, 87, had a stent placed last August, and on Wednesday doctors at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City performed a nonsurgical procedure to revise it.

“According to her doctors, stent revisions are common occurrences and the procedure, performed using endoscopy and medical imaging guidance, was done to minimize the risk of future infection,” spokeswoman Kathleen Arberg said. “The Justice is resting comfortably and expects to be released from the hospital by the end of the week.”

This latest development comes just weeks after Ginsburg announced a recurrence of liver cancer. It also marks the third time in three months that she has been hospitalized, including earlier this month to treat an infection after experiencing fever and chills and in May to remove gallstones.

Ginsburg, the leader of the court’s liberal wing, has faced a number of health problems since being appointed to the Supreme Court by former President Clinton in 1993.

She revealed weeks ago that she has been undergoing chemotherapy for liver cancer since May. Ginsburg said the treatment has been “yielding positive results” and that she is able to perform her court duties with “full steam.”

“My most recent scan on July 7 indicated significant reduction of the liver lesions and no new disease,” she said in a July 17 statement. “I am tolerating chemotherapy well and am encouraged by the success of my current treatment. I will continue bi-weekly chemotherapy to keep my cancer at bay, and am able to maintain an active daily routine.”

 

It is the fifth time Ginsburg has been treated for cancer. She had declared in January that she was cancer-free months after completing treatment for a malignant tumor on her pancreas the previous summer.

https://thehill.com/homenews/news/509713-ginsburg-undergoes-non-surgical-procedure-due-for-hospital-release-by-end-of