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Chen’s tumors
nonmalignant: doctors
RAY OF LIGHT: A doctor said the former president
was relieved he did not have cancer, but doctors are trying to determine how a
third clot had developed so quickly
By Rich Chang / Staff reporter
Former president Chen Shui-bian
is escorted in a wheelchair to Chang Gung Memorial Hospital’s Linkou branch in
New Taipei City yesterday morning.
Photo: Lin Cheng-kung, Taipei Times
The two tumors that had been detected in
former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) seminal vesicle earlier this year are
nonmalignant blood clots, doctors said yesterday after Chen underwent a
follow-up medical checkup, adding that they were trying to determine why a third
clot had formed.
Chen was granted temporary release from prison so he could get a medical checkup
at Chang Gung Hospital’s branch in Linkou District (林口), New Taipei City (新北市),
yesterday morning. He was transported from Taipei Prison to the hospital at
about 6am.
A group of the former president’s supporters were gathered outside the hospital
to show their backing for Chen, shouting “A-bian is innocent” when they saw him
arrive.
National Taiwan University Hospital’s Ko Wen-che (柯文哲), who was asked by Chen’s
family to oversee the medical checkup, said a CT scan had shown that Chen’s
cardiovascular system was somewhat clogged, but that the condition was not
life-threatening.
Ko added that the three clots found in Chen’s seminal vesicle were not
malignant. He said the former president was relieved to know that he did not
have cancer.
However, doctors were still trying to determine why a third clot had developed
so quickly after two were found during checkups last month.
Kuo Cheng-deng (郭正典), another doctor appointed by Chen’s family to perform the
checkup, said Chen may have have been lying in a prone position while writing in
his small cell for extended periods of time, which appeared to have damaged his
knees.
Chen also suffered from gastroesophageal reflux disease and his cholesterol
reading is high, doctors said.
He underwent an angiogram at Taoyuan General Hospital in March after complaining
of discomfort in his chest.
To resolve those problems, Kuo said, Chen needs a better living environment.
Chen was returned to the prison at 12:50pm.
The Ministry of Justice said Chen underwent an electrocardiogram, CT, MRI,
echocardiogram and other checkups.
The former president’s son, Chen Chih-chung (陳致中), appealed to the authorities
to grant his father leave from prison to receive further medical treatment.
Chen Chih-chung expressed the hope that his father’s health problems could
finally be correctly diagnosed and properly treated because they have persisted
for months, leaving the family very anxious.
Various groups in Taiwan and the US have called on the government to release the
former president on humanitarian grounds, saying the conditions in prison are
contributing to his failing health.
The Ministry of Justice maintains that Chen Shui-bian’s conditions are the same
as those of other inmates.
Chen Shui-bian is serving a 17-and-a-half-year prison term on corruption
charges.
Additional reporting by CNA and staff writer
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