Prisoners society accuses Israel negligence

Hebron – Ma'an – The Palestinian Prisoners Society of Hebron accused Israeli doctors of negligence and failing to provide care to critical patients.

Head of the society Amjad An-Najjar said there were 300 detainees and ex-detainees in the govornorate who had suffered from inadequate treatment. He outlined the case of Muhammad Abdul Afu Al-Imleh, 26, who suffered renal failure while he was in prison, and Hamza At-Tarayreh, who was diagnosed with throat cancer shortly after his release.

Al-Imleh was detained in 2004 and released in 2007. His kidney problems were so acute he was left with no option other than a transplant, which was arranged in Jordan in 2008, An-Najjar said.

The youth was sent to the Ar-Ramleh Hospital, the only facility equipped for prisoners in need of medical attention, but An-Najjar said he was not okayed for a transplant at the time.

Doctors in Jordan reviewed the medical reports from Al-Imleh's case, and according to An-Najjar, the "reports explained that he was given inappropriate medical treatment in Al-Ramleh prison which led to an aggravation in his situation."

Hamza At-Tarayreh, 49, is a second case of medical negligence, An-Najjar said. He has suffered from cancer for years whilst he was in prison, and on his release doctors in Hebron referred the man to Jordan, where he was diagnosed with late-stage cancer and is dying in a palliative care wing, An-Najjar said.