Statement by Vietnamese Physicians Regarding Le Chi Quang's Medical Status

On November 8, 2002, the government of Vietnam sentenced Le Chi Quang, a young lawyer from Hanoi, to four years in prison followed by three years of house arrest. Le Chi Quang?s detention and sentencing created much public discontent which we won't elaborate here. However we, the undersigned physicians, after examining the medical records of Le Chi Quang forwarded by his family, hereby opine:

Le Chi Quang suffers from Nephrotic Syndrome and severe Chronic Glomerulonephritis. In November 1990, while he was still in Czechoslovakia, Brno Hospital detected and treated his illness. However, after returning to Vietnam, he relapsed several times. According to the test results dated January 20, 2000, noted by Dr. Nguyen Van Xang from Hanoi Medicare Clinic, his glomerulonephritis has further deteriorated.

His medical condition can be summarized as follows:

  • Urine protein: 12.9mmol/l (normal: 0mm/l)

  • Blood chemistry that reaches toxic levels such as: urea 12,9mmol/l (normal:3.3-6.6 mmol/l); cholesterol 12.73 mmol/l (normal 3.9-5.2 mmol/l); creatinine 101 micromol/l (normal 44-80 micromol/l); while blood total protein is critically low 44.6 g/l (normal 65-82 g/l)

  • He also has Peptic Ulcer Disease.

With his medical problems left inadequately treated, Le Chi Quang may die soon of acute renal failure or stomach bleeding/perforation and he cannot survive in jail.
Incarcerating such a patient is an inhumane act, a deliberate attempt to seek his death.
Therefore, we urge the government of Vietnam to allow Le Chi Quang to receive proper medical care in the hospital and let his family wait on him like any ordinary seriously ill patient, before it is too late.
According to international medical standards, a sick prisoner, even if on death row, still has the right to receive full medical treatment like any ordinary patient.
We also call upon the world medical and humanitarian organizations to intervene to save Le Chi Quang from his current harsh predicament.

November 19, 2002

Signed.

France:
1.. Dr. Tran Duc Tuong
2.. Dr. Bui Trung Truc
3.. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Hai
4.. Dr. Nguyen Quoc Nam
5.. Dr. Nguyen Kim Hoang
6.. Dr. Tran Duc Tuan Vu
7.. Dr. Tran Van Lieu
8.. Dr. Tran Van Chau
9.. Dr. Dang Vu Kinh Quoc
10.. Dr. Tran Phat Dat
11.. Dr. Tran Thi Van Hac
12.. Dr. Nguyen Phuong Thao
13.. Dr. Vu Ngoc Boi
14.. Dr. Nguyen Anh ChÜÖng
15.. Dr. Pham Trong Minh
16.. Dr. Hoang Co Lan

Switzerland:
17.. Dr. Nguyen Thi Xuan Trang
18.. Dr. Nguyen Gia Tien
19.. Dr. Pham Quan

Holland:
20.. Dr. Dao Cong Long
21.. Dr. Lai Manh Cuong

Belgium:
22.. Dr. Nguyen Quoc Bao
23.. Dr. Le Minh Chanh
24.. Dr. Le Huu Loc
25.. Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen
26.. Dr. Nguyen Huy Duc

USA:
27.. Dr. Nguyen Trong Viet
28.. Dr. Tran Xuan Ninh
29.. Dr. Dang Vu Chan
30.. Dr. Pham Gia Con
31.. Dr. Tran Luong Ngoc Ho
32.. Dr. Nguyen Duc Lien

Canada:
33.. Dr. Nguyen Luong Tuyen

Australia:
34.. Dr. Nguyen Manh Tien
35.. Dr. Tran Xuan Dung
36.. Dr. Nguyen Do Thanh Phong
37.. Dr. Lam Kim Loan
38.. Dr. Nguyen Phuc Bao Quy
39.. Dr. Vu Ngoc Tan
40.. Dr. Vo Van Phuoc
41.. Dr. Dao Tu Giac
42.. Dr. Phan Giang Sang
43.. Dr. Nguyen Van Vinh
44.. Dr. Cao Xuan Kien
45.. Dr. Ngo Minh Khiem
46.. Dr. Bui Trong Cuong
47.. Dr. Ha Ngo Thua
48.. Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Dzung
49.. Dr. Pham Huu Phuoc
50.. Dr. Ha Quoc Anh
51.. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Hoe
52.. Dr. Dinh Quoc An
53.. Dr. Dinh Quoc Quan 54.. Dr. Tran Thanh Nhon
55.. Dr. Bach Tan Phat
56.. Dr. Tran Hoang
57.. Dr. Ngo Huu Pha
58.. Dr. Pham Si Lieu
59.. Dr. Thai Minh Duy
60.. Dr. Pham Phuong 61.. Dr. Tran Thinh
62.. Dr. Pham Phu Phuoc
63.. Dr. Ngo Anh Tuan
64.. Dr. Nguyen Manh Viet
65.. Dr. Le Cong Phuoc
66.. Dr. Nguyen Anh Dung
67.. Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan
68.. Dr. Pham Vinh Hoi
69.. Dr. Nguyen Hoang Minh