Cilia Flores Health in Prison
Cilia Flores, la esposa de Nicolás Maduro, experimenta problemas de salud que incluyen dolores en el pecho, pérdida de peso y daño dental mientras está detenida, según un reportaje publicado por The New York Times.
The former first lady of Venezuela has lost 25 pounds, equivalent to 11 kilos, and two teeth during her federal detention. According to elnacional.com, she also suffers from lingering medical complications following a hysterectomy she was recovering from when arrested. Her defense maintains that she only sleeps between three and four hours daily, and she also experiences acid reflux, gastritis, dizziness, weakness, and respiratory problems.
The defense contends she may have suffered a mild heart attack
on July 29 at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, during which she experienced strong chest pressure and breathing difficulties for about 30 minutes. Her legal team consulted outside medical specialists regarding the episode, though no laboratory tests were performed that day and the diagnosis remains unconfirmed.
Arguments for House Arrest
Defense attorneys argued that Flores needed to leave prison to await trial under house arrest in Manhattan. U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein rejected the request on October 8. The defense maintains that a federal prison is unequipped for complex cardiac procedures.
Court documents cited by cubanosporelmundo.com indicate that Flores suffers from mitral valve prolapse and previously received a monthly injection that she has not received since entering custody. Prosecutors countered that Flores herself declined certain medical tests and a cardiac catheterization procedure inside the facility unless released.
Maduro Prison Routine
Mientras Flores enfrenta dificultades de salud, Nicolás Maduro pasa parte de su tiempo en la misma instalación de Brooklyn dedicado a la lectura religiosa. According to elnacional.com, Maduro dedicates long hours to reading the Bible, the Koran, and other religious texts. He also receives visits from chaplains, including a Catholic priest and a rabbi.
U.S. authorities added charges of conspiracy to commit torture, alleging that Maduro and Flores inflicted intense physical and mental suffering on unidentified victims, including U.S. citizens, using electric shocks, mock drownings, and beatings while detained in Venezuela. The couple was originally captured by U.S. military personnel in Caracas on January 3 and charged with drug trafficking and weapons offenses.
Questions About Cilia Flores's Denial of House Arrest and Medical Care
What specific new charges did U.S. prosecutors add?
Court filings state that the couple inflicted intense physical and mental suffering on victims in Venezuela, including U.S. citizens subjected to beatings and electrical shocks.
What medical treatments has Flores received in custody?
Prison medical staff prescribed aspirin, a statin, diltiazem, and sublingual nitroglycerin for chest pain. Her attorneys state she has not received her previous monthly injection for mitral valve prolapse since entering the Brooklyn facility.
More on Cilia Flores
Keep reading