A-Bian is sick

[ChewDawg]

I think it's bad that they didn't get him to the hospital sooner, but I don't know why his family and supporters are complaining about his 30 mins of exercise per day and lack of manual labour opportunities.

There are lots of prisoners in Supermax prisons in the US that are fit as a fiddle. Why? Because they do 1000s of push ups and sit ups in their cell, which are on 24-hour lockdown.

Chen, even as president, lived an inactive lifestyle. The health problems from an inactive lifestyle are cumulative and not necessarily because of his conditions in jail. It's the result of decades of neglect. With regard to working in prison, would Chen really want to work making joss sticks or washing clothes? If he was allowed to do this type of work, I am sure his supporters would say it was beneath a former president.

Hard time is exactly that---hard time. To me, there has been a repetitive pattern with Chen and his wife to use their ailments to get special conditions. If you do the crime, you should do the time no matter what your ailments are.

The US-based Formosan Association for Human Rights (FAHR) in a letter on Saturday condemned the “inhuman imprisonment conditions” faced by former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and called on the Presidential Office and Ministry of Justice to “set aside political motives” and grant Chen the hospital stay he needs to return to full health.

Chen, who is serving a 17-and-a-half-year prison sentence for corruption, was granted a temporary release from Taipei Prison on Tuesday for a medical checkup at Taoyuan General Hospital because of heath concerns. A series of tests revealed that he was suffering from an acute coronary syndrome and significantly reduced blood flow to the heart, a potentially fatal condition, the letter said.

Taipei Prison ignored Chen’s repeated requests for a hospital checkup for a month until pressure from 13 legislators persuaded it to relent, it said.

However, the prison authorities had planned to return Chen to prison immediately after the checkup.
Chen is currently in the intensive care unit after undergoing an urgent cardiac catheterization procedure on Wednesday. A small tumor was also found on his prostate during the examination.

Chen’s son, Chen Chih-chung, pointed out that his father has been jailed under an inhuman conditions and was allowed only 30 minutes each day for outdoor activities. Earlier this year, for nine straight days, he was even denied his daily exercise time. Unlike other inmates, who can work eight hours a day in prison factories, his father is essentially confined to a damp and undersized cell of about 70 square feet, 24 hours a day.

[Taigottawanna]

He's now a ward of the state, so his health is their responsibility. His previously inactive lifestyle can't be used as a justification. If he and his family did indeed ask for time out of his cell to exercise and work, I can't see the prison going, "no, because we don't think he took the time to exercise while president, therefore we will deny your request." And if he was given Ativan to "calm him down" without his knowledge or consent, that's pretty serious. I don't know, I'm not privy to the rationale for dosing him with a tranquilizer...maybe he was making a big ruckus and writing disparaging letters to the media.

I once read in a newspaper about an old guy in the US purposely getting himself arrested for shoplifting because the figured if he got thrown into the prison system, the state would give him free health coverage and he would no longer be a burden to his children (I think he had a health condition and not insurance). It being reported in the news, I reckon the judge and social services worked something out where he'd get decent health coverage without having to spend time in jail. I guess the old guy didn't know that being in prison exposes you to anal raping as well as free health insurance.

[TheGingerMan]

"Chen, who is serving a 17-and-a-half-year prison sentence for corruption, was granted a temporary release from Taipei Prison on Tuesday for a medical checkup at Taoyuan General Hospital."

Was it his family that requested Taoyuan General Hospital, or have the authorities decided to punish him by sending him to what just might be the WORST possible health institution in the entire country?

[CraigTPE]

Hard time is exactly that---hard time. To me, there has been a repetitive pattern with Chen and his wife to use their ailments to get special conditions. If you do the crime, you should do the time no matter what your ailments are.

Yeah, interesting, huh. In the US, it wouldn't matter a damn. Can't do the time, don't do the crime.

He's now a ward of the state, so his health is their responsibility. His previously inactive lifestyle can't be used as a justification. If he and his family did indeed ask for time out of his cell to exercise and work, I can't see the prison going, "no, because we don't think he took the time to exercise while president, therefore we will deny your request." And if he was given Ativan to "calm him down" without his knowledge or consent, that's pretty serious. I don't know, I'm not privy to the rationale for dosing him with a tranquilizer...maybe he was making a big ruckus and writing disparaging letters to the media.

I once read in a newspaper about an old guy in the US purposely getting himself arrested for shoplifting because the figured if he got thrown into the prison system, the state would give him free health coverage and he would no longer be a burden to his children (I think he had a health condition and not insurance). It being reported in the news, I reckon the judge and social services worked something out where he'd get decent health coverage without having to spend time in jail. I guess the old guy didn't know that being in prison exposes you to anal raping as well as free health insurance.

Never heard anyone describe prison health care as "decent".

[urodacus]

Perhaps A-Bian has abdominal bleeding?

Or is that just a wild shot?


I should stop, these comments make me sick to the stomach.

[finley]

Perhaps A-Bian has abdominal bleeding?

Or is that just a wild shot?

I should stop, these comments make me sick to the stomach.

I had to think about that for a couple of seconds. More please

[CraigTPE]

Was it his family that requested Taoyuan General Hospital, or have the authorities decided to punish him by sending him to what just might be the WORST possible health institution in the entire country?

Should the prison system be required to use the BEST possible health institution? I imagine most will opt for the cheapest. Save tax dollars, you know.

[ChewDawg]

Was it his family that requested Taoyuan General Hospital, or have the authorities decided to punish him by sending him to what just might be the WORST possible health institution in the entire country?

Should the prison system be required to use the BEST possible health institution? I imagine most will opt for the cheapest. Save tax dollars, you know.

He got access to medical resources that in some developed countries might take months on a waiting list. That's sort of why I am entertained by people complaining about his conditions. Ok, they should have taken him in sooner. But exercise within a jail can take place anywhere. I don't think his human rights are being violated.

The tests he received---much better than many inmates get in many countries.

Earlier Wednesday, Chen received a comprehensive medical examination including a colonoscopy, prostate ultrasound, abdominal ultrasound, two thallium-201 SPECT imaging tests, vision and intra-ocular pressure exams, and an electrocardiogram.

[Belgian Pie]

No, in Taiwan anyone has access to these facilities, fast ...

[Mucha Man]

Let's not get carried away with self-rightwingousness.

Chen is not a hardened violent criminal. He was charged with a couple economic crimes, the more serious crimes of embezzling state funds being long dropped.

In the US he would be in a comfy minimum security prison not in some supermax facility.