The health of Panama's imprisoned former dictator Manuel Noriega is deteriorating and his outlook is "bleak," his physician said Thursday.
Noriega, 80, who has suffered several strokes and has prostate cancer and heart disease, was briefly transferred from his prison to hospital for testing.
Hospital screenings "reveal further deterioration of respiratory function and when respiratory function is impaired, this can affect other major organs like the heart," doctor Eduardo Reyes told AFP.
"With his age, the illness and confinement, his prognosis is bleak and his health is on a razor's edge."
After testing, Noriega returned to El Renacer prison, on the banks of the Panama Canal.
Noriega was a military dictator of Panama in the 80's. He was removed from power by US invasion and served time in American and French prisons.
Since 2011, he has been jailed in Panama on charges of killing his political rivals.
Noriega was brought to trial in September for the killing of Luis Antonio Quiros, who disappeared in 1969, when Noriega was head of the military government's counter-espionage department.
Since being extradited from France to Panama in 2011, Noriega has been convicted for several disappearances of political opponents during his rule from 1983 to 1989.
Noriega's family has had requests to move the former general to house arrest was turned down several times.
The health of Panama’s imprisoned former dictator Manuel Noriega is deteriorating and his outlook is “bleak,” his physician said Thursday.
Noriega, 80, who has suffered several strokes and has prostate cancer and heart disease, was briefly transferred from his prison to hospital for testing.
Hospital screenings “reveal further deterioration of respiratory function and when respiratory function is impaired, this can affect other major organs like the heart,” doctor Eduardo Reyes told AFP.
“With his age, the illness and confinement, his prognosis is bleak and his health is on a razor’s edge.”
After testing, Noriega returned to El Renacer prison, on the banks of the Panama Canal.
Noriega was a military dictator of Panama in the 80’s. He was removed from power by US invasion and served time in American and French prisons.
Since 2011, he has been jailed in Panama on charges of killing his political rivals.
Noriega was brought to trial in September for the killing of Luis Antonio Quiros, who disappeared in 1969, when Noriega was head of the military government’s counter-espionage department.
Since being extradited from France to Panama in 2011, Noriega has been convicted for several disappearances of political opponents during his rule from 1983 to 1989.
Noriega’s family has had requests to move the former general to house arrest was turned down several times.
