Doctors fear Assange will die in prison if hospitalization is not forthcoming

Sixty doctors express serious concerns about Julian Assange’s medical and mental health in an open letter to the British Home Secretary. Doctors say Assange may die in prison if not hospitalized.

The doctors base their concerns on testimonials from recent months and reports from doctors who have visited Assange in recent years. In the letter, they provide a comprehensive overview of the medical complaints Assange has to deal with and his mental state.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been in high-security Belmarsh prison in London since April this year. He ended up there after Ecuador withdrew his asylum and British police arrested him. Assange’s health was already poor at the time and has worsened in prison, the doctors write in the letter.

According to the letter, doctors examined Assange several times during his stay at the embassy and raised the alarm about his health. Requests to have him examined at a hospital were denied. In May, a UN rapporteur, along with doctors specializing in torture, visited Assange in prison. In a report, they concluded that he shows all the symptoms of a person who has been subjected to long-term mental torture.

Eyewitnesses reported in October that Assange appeared confused at a hearing. In early November, the UN rapporteur raised the alarm again, warning that Assange could die in prison if left untreated. Doctors argue for admission to a teaching hospital.

In February next year, the British court will decide whether Assange can be extradited to the United States. The doctors write in the letter that they fear that the WikiLeaks foreman is not healthy enough to go through that process. The open letter was signed by doctors from all over the world. British politicians have not yet responded to the letter.