Monday, November 15, 2010

Leonard Peltier Family Accuses US of Medical Neglect


Contact: Delaney Bruce, Legal Team Liaison, Leonard Peltier Defense
Offense Committee, PO Box 7488, Fargo, ND 58106, USA; Telephone:
1-701-235-2206;
contact@whoisleonardpeltier.info

Peltier family accuses U.S. government of medical neglect
By Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee
"A man dies from prostate cancer every 16 minutes in this country. Why
does my brother have to wait over a year to receive even a diagnosis?"

Native American activist Leonard Peltier, who maintains his innocence,
was wrongfully convicted in connection with the shooting deaths of two
agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1977. Imprisoned for
35 years-currently at the federal prison in Lewisburg,
Pennsylvania-Peltier has been designated a political prisoner by Amnesty
International. Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, 55 Members of Congress and
others-including a judge who sat as a member of the court in two of
Peltier's appeals-have all called for his immediate release. Widely
recognized for his humanitarian works and a six-time Nobel Prize
nominee, Peltier also is an accomplished author and painter.

Sister Betty Solano says Peltier began exhibiting symptoms commonly
attributed to prostate cancer over a year ago. His age (he is 66 years
old) and family history are risk factors for the disease. Pressured by
Peltier's attorneys, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) ran standard blood
tests in June. Peltier received the results last week, over four months
later. A physician only now says a biopsy is needed to make a
diagnosis.

Prostate cancer affects 1 in 6 men in the United States. Medical
experts agree that the cure rate for prostate cancer is high, but only
if detected early.

Even if Peltier doesn't have cancer, the symptoms indicate a serious
medical condition and one that could lead to serious complications if
left untreated.

A physician who conducted an independent review of Peltier's medical
records in 2000 concluded that Peltier's overall medical treatment is
below a reasonable standard of care. Decades ago, Peltier suffered a
stroke which left him nearly blind in one eye-damage physicians say
could have been prevented had he been treated sooner. In the 1990s,
there was international outrage after the BOP botched surgeries to
correct a jaw problem. Only then was Peltier transferred to the Mayo
Clinic in Minnesota for treatment. Subsequent procedures were
recommended by a specialist, but never performed by the BOP.

"Last week, at the United Nations, the United States claimed that it is
unequivocally committed to the humane treatment of all individuals in
detention, including criminal detention. Delaying tests, avoiding a
diagnosis, and preventing proper medical treatment for a potentially
life threatening disease is not humane by anyone's definition," a
spokesperson for the Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee said.

"Unfortunately, this situation isn't unique to Mr. Peltier. Many U.S.
prisoners die prematurely because treatment is delayed or denied."

Family members want the government to release Peltier who was denied
parole in 2009. His North Dakota tribe has twice passed a resolution
asking the government to transfer Peltier into their custody. Peltier's
many supporters believe his release from prison is the only way Peltier
will receive humane treatment.

###

US Versus Leonard Peltier: Evidence of a Wrongful Conviction. From the
files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation:
http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/download/CriticalFBIDocs.pdf.


Contact:

LPDOC - PO Box 7488 - Fargo, ND 58106
(701) 235-2206 (Phone); (701) 235-5045 (Fax)
www.whoisleonardpeltier.info
contact@whoisleonardpeltier.info

No comments:

Censored News Special Edition

Censored News Blog Radio

Donate to Censored News

. Censored News is free of advertising and has no sponsors.

Censored News Homepage

About Censored News


Censored News is published by censored journalist Brenda Norrell. A journalist for 27 years, Brenda lived on the Navajo Nation for 18 years, writing for Navajo Times, AP, USA Today, Lakota Times and other American Indian publications. After being censored and then terminated by Indian Country Today in 2006, she began the Censored Blog to document the most censored issues. She currently serves as human rights editor for the U.N. OBSERVER & International Report at the Hague and contributor to Sri Lanka Guardian, Narco News and CounterPunch. She was cohost of the 5-month Longest Walk Talk Radio across America, with Earthcycles Producer Govinda Dalton in 2008: www.earthcycles.net/
COPYRIGHTS All material is copyrighted by the author or photographer. Please contact each contributor for reprint permission. brendanorrell@gmail.com
Audios may not be sold or used for commercial purposes.

"O FRIEND! In the garden of thy heart plant naught but the rose of love, and from the nightingale of affection and desire loosen not thy hold." --Baha'u'llah, Baha'i Faith