Jailed Chinese journalist Gao Yu has heart problems, lawyer says
Medical parole sought for prominent reporter who has been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, heart problems and high blood pressure
Imprisoned Chinese journalist Gao Yu has been diagnosed with heart problems and a request for parole on medical grounds is pending, her lawyer said Thursday.
Gao, 71, is serving a seven-year sentence on charges of leaking a document detailing the Communist Party leadership’s resolve to aggressively target civil society groups that operate outside of party control, along with press freedoms seen as threats to the party’s monopoly on power.
Lawyer Mo Shaoping said Gao was taken to Beijing’s Anzhen Hospital last week and diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, heart problems and high blood pressure. He said Gao was given medication to control her condition and returned to prison.
The lawyer last week filed an application for medical parole on Gao’s behalf, which if granted would allow her to serve the rest of her sentence at home.
“At this stage, it is hard to predict whether the application will be approved or not,” Mo said. The Beijing police spokesman’s office did not immediately respond to questions about Gao.
Medical complaints are common among imprisoned Chinese, often from the generally poor nutrition and health care available in the institutions. Prominent activist Cao Shunli died in March after five months of pre-trial detention, reportedly after medical treatment was denied.