http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/24030Latest: Slow Death of Man in Guantanamo
Submitted by davidswanson on Tue, 2007-06-26 21:55. Media
CAGEPRISONERS
Unclassified statements from 59 year old father-of-four Saifullah Paracha, currently being detained at Guantanamo Bay, reveal that his health has seriously deteriorated and could lead to his premature death if his pre-existing heart, prostatic and diabetic disease are not treated urgently.
Saifullah, a Pakistani national and US green card holder, was kidnapped on 5th July 2003 whilst enroute to Bangkok on business. He has since suffered three heart attacks, one of which occurred during interrogation - two in Bagram Airbase and one in Guantanamo Bay.
His lawyer Gaillard T Hunt suggests his medical treatment is at best incompetent and at worst negligent.
"Several of Paracha's brothers and sisters have died of cardiac problems before reaching 65. Paracha is nearly! 60, so the problem is not one to be ignored. Paracha has been having fainting spells, so we know the problem is worsening. He couldn't submit to a cardiac catheterization at Guantanamo because the
rules require all prisoners in the hospital to be shackled to the four corners of the bed. The cardiologist said this was dangerous for a heart patient, but the prison administration would not compromise. The statements filed in court to assure us that Paracha is getting proper treatment are not signed by the doctors. We have to assume the doctors are as disturbed by the situation as we are. The doctors told Paracha that they were acting as military men first, as doctors second. Paracha is not the worst case. There are people at GTMO literally dying from lack of treatment."
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