Former President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has developed severe post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, and has attempted suicide at least three times as a result of his incarceration, a Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker yesterday cited a medical assessment report as saying.
Chen is currently serving a 17-and-a-half-year term at Taipei Prison on corruption charges.
“According to an assessment compiled by Mackay Memorial Hospital psychiatrist Chen Chiao-chicy (陳喬琪), the former president has exhibited symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and major depression after having been held in long-term confinement,” DPP Legislator Hsu Tain-tsair (許添財) said after a 45-minute meeting with Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) at the legislature in Taipei to discuss the former president’s medical condition.
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
“Because of Chen Shui-bian’s poor mental state, he has attempted suicide at least three times, including two hunger strikes and once by banging his head against the wall,” Hsu said.
The meeting was also attended by the former president’s son, Chen Chih-chung (陳致中), and a task force comprised of physicians and rights advocates — including National Taiwan University physician Ko Wen-che (柯文哲), Taipei Veterans General Hospital physician Kuo Cheng-tien (郭正典) and former Northern Taiwan Society director Janice Chen (陳昭姿) — to monitor the health of the former president.
Chen Chih-chung said that his family was worried about his father’s health and that his grandmother called him yesterday morning to ask about a follow-up medical checkup for tumors reported to have been detected in Chen Shui-bian’s prostate at Chang Gung Hospital two months ago.
Three reported tumors were found in Chen Shui-bian’s seminal vesicle earlier this year, but were later determined to be non-malignant blood clots.
Wang yesterday said that based on the medical report commissioned by Chen Shui-bian’s family, the former president’s physical state appeared to be declining, adding that the report recorded that he has suffered from hypothermia, autonomic instability, post-traumatic stress disorder and major depression.
“If these conditions are proven to be medically accurate, I will bring up the matter at an -appropriate time and occasion,” Wang said.
However, Taipei Prison yesterday dismissed Hsu’s allegations of Chen Shui-bian having attempted suicide, saying Hsu was exaggerating.
Chen Shui-bian stopped eating three times during his incarceration, but those were not suicide attempts, the prison said.
The prison said it had paid close attention to Chen Shui-bian’s health and believed his mental and physical condition were sound.
It said it had previously arranged for Chen Shui-bian to undergo medical checkups at Taoyuan General Hospital and Chang Gung Hospital’s branch in New Taipei City’s (新北市) Linkou District (林口) and that his ailments could be controlled by taking medicine and having follow-up checkups.
The prison also dismissed Ko’s allegations that Chen Shui-bian’s life was at risk and that he could die within four years if his current conditions do not improve.
Additional reporting by Rich Chang
A car bomb killed a senior Russian general in southern Moscow yesterday morning, the latest high-profile army figure to be blown up in a blast that came just hours after Russian and Ukrainian delegates held separate talks in Miami on a plan to end the war. Kyiv has not commented on the incident, but Russian investigators said they were probing whether the blast was “linked” to “Ukrainian special forces.” The attack was similar to other assassinations of generals and pro-war figures that have either been claimed, or are widely believed to have been orchestrated, by Ukraine. Russian Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, 56, head
SAFETY FIRST: Double the number of police were deployed at the Taipei Marathon, while other cities released plans to bolster public event safety Authorities across Taiwan have stepped up security measures ahead of Christmas and New Year events, following a knife and smoke bomb attack in Taipei on Friday that left four people dead and 11 injured. In a bid to prevent potential copycat incidents, police deployments have been expanded for large gatherings, transport hubs, and other crowded public spaces, according to official statements from police and city authorities. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said the city has “comprehensively raised security readiness” in crowded areas, increased police deployments with armed officers, and intensified patrols during weekends and nighttime hours. For large-scale events, security checkpoints and explosives
PUBLIC SAFETY: The premier said that security would be tightened in transport hubs, while President Lai commended the public for their bravery The government is to deploy more police, including rapid response units, in crowded public areas to ensure a swift response to any threats, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday after a knife attack killed three people and injured 11 in Taipei the previous day. Lai made the remarks following a briefing by the National Police Agency on the progress of the investigation, saying that the attack underscored the importance of cooperation in public security between the central and local governments. The attack unfolded in the early evening on Friday around Taipei Main Station’s M7 exit and later near the Taipei MRT’s Zhongshan
REBUFFED: In response to Chinese criticism over recent arms sales, Washington urged Beijing to engage in meaningful dialogue instead of threats and intimidation Washington’s long-term commitment to Taiwan would not change, the US Department of State said yesterday, urging Beijing to stop pressuring Taiwan and engage in meaningful bilateral dialogues. The remarks came in response to a backlash from Beijing about Washington’s latest approval of arms sales to Taiwan. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement on Wednesday that the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US has asked to purchase an arms package, including Tactical Mission Network Software; AH-1W helicopter spare and repair parts; M109A7 self-propelled howitzers; HIMARS long range precision strike systems; tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided missiles; Javelin
RSS