By Chris Wang / Staff reporter
National Taiwan University Hospital physician and Taipei mayoral election aspirant Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) visited former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) in the prison hospital in Greater Taichung yesterday and said that Chen should be allowed to leave prison for the sake of his health.
Chen, who is serving a 20-year prison term for corruption, was sent to Taichung Veterans General Hospital for surgery to treat his sleep apnea and on Tuesday returned to Taichung Prison’s Pei Teh Hospital, where a special medical zone was set up for him.
Ko, who was on Chen’s private medical team, said the former president talked nonstop about politics during their brief meeting.
“However, that gave me a sentimental feeling as a physician because he should not be talking about politics at all. It would be better for his health if he were allowed to leave prison and rest. I also think that his urinary incontinence should have been treated,” Ko said.
Chen’s private medical team is to unveil its latest assessment of Chen’s condition today at a press conference, Ko said.
Ko declined to comment on his election campaign and his decision about joining the Democratic Progressive Party.
Taichung Prison said Chen is recovering well after his surgery and added that the prison would provide him with the necessary care.
The former president has been diagnosed with various complications, including severe depression, sleep apnea, non-typical Parkinson’s disease, a speech disorder and mild cerebral atrophy. He also tried to commit suicide in June last year.