PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA：
LIU XIA RECEIVES MEDICAL TREATMENT

The wife of jailed Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, Liu Xia, who is under illegal house arrest in Beijing, had a heart attack in January and has been diagnosed with a heart condition. She has been prevented from receiving the treatment she needs in hospital and there are increasing fears for her physical and mental health.

Liu Xia, 53, had a heart attack and was admitted to Beijing Shijingshan hospital for emergency treatment shortly before Chinese New Year in January. The doctor suggested that she be hospitalized for two weeks for further examination and treatment, but she was returned home.

On 8 February, she went back to the hospital under police escort, where she was diagnosed with a heart condition, which the doctors said required further treatment. Her family completed all the necessary forms and paid the hospital fees, however the hospital refused to admit her. She was returned home, where she continues to suffer from a high fever.

Liu Xia’s physical and mental health is worrying after a long period of isolation, and she is in need of proper and comprehensive medical treatment. In addition to her heart condition, it is believed she is suffering from severe depression. Liu Xia has been under house arrest since 8 October 2010, following the announcement that her husband, Liu Xiaobo, who is serving an 11-year prison sentence, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

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The wife of jailed Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, Liu Xia, has been able to have medical examinations and treatment, and her health condition has improved. She had been prevented from receiving the treatment she needed after suffering a heart attack in January. She continues to be held under illegal house arrest in Beijing.

Liu Xia, 53, has had medical examinations and treatment at several different hospitals in Beijing. The examinations have suggested that she is mainly suffering from psychological stress, anxiety and depression, and the doctors warned this is likely to become worse unless her current living condition changes.

Liu Xia, a poet and artist, has been under house arrest since 8 October 2010, following the announcement that her husband, Liu Xiaobo, who is serving an 11-year prison sentence, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She remains under tight surveillance in her home and is not allowed visitors. She has recently been allowed to speak to friends by phone, and they say that her physical and mental health has improved.

Liu Xia had a heart attack and was admitted to Beijing Shijingshan hospital for emergency treatment shortly before Chinese New Year in January. The doctor suggested that she be hospitalized for two weeks for further examination and treatment, but she was returned home. On 8 February, she went back to the hospital under police escort, where she was diagnosed with a heart condition, which the doctors said required further treatment. Her family completed all the necessary forms and paid the hospital fees, however the hospital refused to admit her and she was returned home.

 

Many thanks to all those who took action on her behalf. We will continue to work on her case through other means, but no more action is required from the Urgent Action Network at this time.

Messages or photos to show solidarity with Liu Xia can be posted on a bi-lingual tumblr page here: http://messagesforliuxia.tumblr.com/

 

This is the first update of UA 30/14. Further information: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA17/007/2014/en

 

Name: Liu Xia

Gender m/f: Female

Further information on UA: 30/14 Index: ASA 17/017/2014 Issue Date: 25 March 2014