|
Doctors’ petition asks for Chen’s
medical release
DPP SUPPORT: While Su Tseng-chang did not sign
the petition, he said he was working in the same direction and happy the
petition was going ahead
By Lin Shu-hui / Staff reporter
Democratic Progressive Party
Chairman Su Tseng-chang talks to the press in Taipei yesterday, saying he is
happy to see non-governmental organizations show concern for former president
Chen Shui-bian’s health.
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
Several doctors have launched an online
petition calling for the release of former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) for
medical treatment as soon as possible.
The conditions of Chen’s confinement in a 4.56m2 cell have affected his physical
as well as mental health, said Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), director of the National Taiwan
University Hospital’s traumatology department.
Chen, who is serving a 17-and-a-half-year prison term for corruption, has been
diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome in early March and was granted temporary
release from Taipei Prison for cardiac catheterization and a medical checkup.
Two tumors were also found on Chen’s prostate, but as of late last month,
doctors said the tumors were benign.
Ko, Taipei Veterans General Hospital physician Kuo Cheng-tien (郭正典) and Taipei
General Hospital vice president Kuo Chang-feng (郭長豐) visited Democratic
Progressive Party Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) on Thursday to solicit his
support for their petition.
While Su did not sign the petition, he said he was working in the same direction
and that he was glad civic organizations were also concerned about Chen’s
medical rights and privileges.
Su said he was also concerned about Chen’s rights.
“I have visited Chen in Taipei Prison before,” Su said, adding that the party
had established a special division tasked with monitoring Chen’s health.
Su said the party had asked its legislative caucus to stress the need to uphold
Chen’s medical rights and that if the former president’s health deteriorates and
meets the conditions for temporary release for treatment, it should call on the
government to release Chen as soon as possible.
“Only by such an action can the government show that it respects the human
rights of inmates,” Su said.
|
