Last year she claimed to be too ill to attend court proceedings relating to a separate charge of misappropriation of public funds.

BBC: Yulia Tymoshenko

It would be ill-advised, she thinks, to claim that profit-seeking makes one inherently corrupt, especially if it is balanced by other virtues.

WSJ: Cultural Conversation: The New Theories of Moral Sentiments

While she knew that now the servants would be decided against her, Husna felt she could afford their ill will, for her position in the household was growing stronger daily.

NEWYORKER: In Other Rooms, Other Wonders

Ms Tymoshenko is reported to be on hunger strike and says she is very ill.

BBC: Tymoshenko case: Europe pressure on Ukraine intensifies

It possibly contained the information she most wanted, but by then she was too ill even to be told of its existence.

ECONOMIST: Winnie Johnson

She has even relieved an ill box office staffer and sells tickets until 5 minutes before she needs to be onstage herself.

WSJ: Behold: Catherine Russell the off-Broadway force

Praising the UK government's moves on public health and a report linking poverty with ill health, she called for public health to be rebuilt for a new era.

BBC: WHO launches anti-poverty drive

But arguably the most serious indication that she is wholly ill-equipped to carry out her present responsibilities can be found in another - as yet uncorrected - statement she made on Sunday.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Jihad 101

We knew it would be freezing cold - it snowed in Homs while she was there - so I lent her a pair of ill-fitting, Y-fronted longjohns to keep her warm.

BBC: Jim Muir's tribute to Marie Colvin

"If you throw into the mix that people are worried about finances, any other issue that's already there, like an ill child or a disabled child, is going to be magnified that much more, " she says.

CNN: When adult children fail, parents suffer too