AI Index: AMR 18/09/00

To: Health professionals

From: Medical office / Bolivia Research Team

Date: 31 July 2000

MEDICAL LETTER WRITING ACTION

Raúl Castro Sanizzo

BOLIVIA

Key words: ill health / denial of care

Summary

Raúl Castro Sanizzo is serving a sentence of six years and eight months' imprisonment in the San Pedro prison in La Paz, the capital of Bolivia. He is not a political prisoner and Amnesty International's concerns arise from the denial of necessary medical care for a malignant tumour which is putting his life at risk and causing him prolonged suffering. The organization is urging the authorities to ensure that he receive proper medical care consistent with the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.

Recommended actions

Write courteously worded appeals in Spanish, if fluent, otherwise in your own language to the authorities listed below:

• express concern at the lack of medical attention to Raúl Castro Sanizzo's malignant tumour;

• ask for medical attention to be provided to treat the malignant tumour and to control the pain;

• ask for competent medical attention to be made available to prisoners in San Pedro prison who need such care;

• request information on any measures taken by the prison authorities to remedy the lack of medical care available in San Pedro prison.

Addresses

Prisons director general Government Minister

Director General de Sr. Ministro de Gobierno

Regimen Penitenciario Guillermo Fortun

Sr. Jorge Daniel Ayllón Zamorano Ministerio de Gobierno

Av. Arce 2316 Av. Arce Esq. Belisario Salinas

La Paz, Bolivia La Paz, Bolivia

Fax: +5912 44 187 or +5912 441 2382 Fax: +5912 442 589

Prison governor

Gobernador de la

Penitenciaria de San Pedro

Cnl. Urbano Calderón

Plaza de San Pedro

La Paz, Bolivia

Please send copies to:

Prison pastoral service of Church

Pastoral Carcelaria

c/o CEPAS

Calle Ingavi

Esq Pichincha, La Paz, Bolivia

AI Index: AMR 18/09/00

Date: 31 July 2000

MEDICAL CONCERN

Raúl Castro Sanizzo

BOLIVIA

Raúl Castro Sanizzo is serving a sentence of six years and eight months' imprisonment in the San Pedro prison in La Paz, the capital of Bolivia. He is not a political prisoner and Amnesty International's concerns arise from the denial of necessary medical care for a malignant tumour which is putting his life at risk and causing him prolonged suffering. The organization is urging the authorities to ensure that he receive proper medical care consistent with the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.

Raúl Castro Sanizzo was interviewed by Amnesty International delegates during a visit to the Penitenciaria de San Pedro in July 2000. He complained of a malignant tumour on the neck below the jaw from which he has been suffering for the last 11 months. The tumour was visible to the delegates and was approximately 3cm (1¼ inches) in diameter. The medical report issued by the Hospital Juan XXIII of La Paz, on 10 March 2000, confirmed the malignant nature of the tumour by biopsy. Raúl Castro Sanizzo complains of constant pain and has requested the prison authorities to allow him to be medically treated. However, permission has been refused by the prison governor -- a decision which places the prisoner's life at risk. The reason for the refusal is not known. Medical facilities at San Pedro prison are extremely basic and medicines are not easily available to the inmates. There is no doctor in the prison.

Amnesty International is concerned at the lack of appropriate medical attention to Raúl Castro Sanizzo and the reluctance of the authorities to arrange for his transfer to an appropriate medical facility in conformity with the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. Amnesty International is seeking reassurances that the Bolivian authorities will take steps to improve access to health care in San Pedro prison.