(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioner Mr. Yuan Yulong has been illegally imprisoned for his belief since 2012. He was given two blood transfusions and underwent surgery, without his family's consent, during the first three months of 2015.
Mr. Yuan Yulong, 66, was illegally sentenced to a five-year prison term in 2012, for distributing informational materials about the communist regime's persecution of Falun Dafa.
Officials at Lianjiangkou Prison told Mr. Yuan's family that they had spent over 3,600 yuan for his blood transfusions. Based on the current cost of transfusions, Mr. Yuan must have received over 800ml of blood.
Mr. Yuan was healthy when he was sent to the prison. When his family demanded to know the cause of his deteriorating health, prison officials refused to release any information.
Sudden Health Problems
Mr. Yuan's daughter received notice from the prison in summer 2014, demanding that she pay for his medical examination at a hospital outside the prison, because he had developed symptoms of high blood pressure and stroke. The prison doctors later told his daughter that they could treat him without hospitalization.
Mr. Yuan's family visited him in January 2015. Mr. Yuan told them that he had been passing large quantities of blood in his stool. The prison doctors could not find the cause.
Prison Urges Medical Parole
Mr. Yuan's daughter received a call from the prison on February 25, 2015. The prison claimed that they had spent over 2,600 yuan for Mr. Yuan's blood transfusion. When his daughter asked why he needed a transfusion, Ma, head of No. 6 Ward, hesitated, and said only that it was needed to save his life.
Mr. Yuan's daughter rushed to the prison, but guards did not allow her to see her father. They told her that they were ready to release Mr. Yuan on medial parole, and that she should immediately start the application process.
Dong Daquan, a 610 Office agent stationed at the prison, referred them to the Fujin City Judicial Bureau to process the medical parole procedure. However, the family was told that they needed documentation from the prison regarding Mr. Yuan's condition.
Empty-handed, the family members returned to the prison, but the officials there avoided them and said that they were awaiting approval for the medical parole from Harbin City officials.
Second Transfusion
After Mr. Yuan was given a second blood transfusion on March 8, 2015, his family demanded that the prison tell them the truth about his condition. A guard told them that he was fine and could walk now.
His family was finally allowed to visit him on March 9. They immediately noticed that he was thinner and appeared to be anemic. Mr. Yuan revealed that his blood pressure was unstable. When his wife asked whether he was being beaten, he did not answer, as guards were monitoring their conversation.
Medical Parole Denied
Prison officials later told Mr. Yuan's family that he did not meet the requirements for medical parole, claiming that he no longer had high blood pressure after the transfusion.
Mr. Yuan's daughter asked if the prison authorities were willing to be held responsible if his life was in danger. Officers agreed to send Mr. Yuan for another medical exam, but required his family to pay for it.
Mr. Yuan's daughter-in-law said, “He was healthy when he was sent to prison, but now his life is in danger. We won't pay for what you did. We hold the prison responsible.”
Mr. Yuan was sent to the hospital in 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of handcuffs and shackles, surrounded by guards and family members. The prison paid 2,000 yuan for the examination.
Surgery Without Family Consent
Mr. Yuan's family was later told that he suffered from hemorrhoids and needed surgery. Even though his family did not give their consent, prison doctors operated on Mr. Yuan on March 26. Mr. Yuan's daughter was notified by phone on March 30.
It was later learned that in early February, the prison attempted to force Mr. Yuan to do hard labor. Mr. Yuan refused and reasserted that he was not a criminal.
