Forced Administration of Drugs in Prison Hospital Suspected in Death of Elderly Practitioner

Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Zhou Chuming died on March 17th, 2015, at 71 years of age. Mr. Zhou had been imprisoned for almost three years for upholding his belief in Falun Gong. His health declined precipitously after he was forced to take unidentified drugs at the prison hospital for four months in 2010. His health continued to deteriorate after his release. It is strongly suspected that the drugs were instrumental in contributing to Mr. Zhou's decline and eventual death.

Despite an approved medical parole due to health concerns while serving his prison sentence, rather than release Mr. Zhou, the Nanchang Prison authorities sent him to the prison hospital in August 2010. There he was forced to take unknown drugs for four months until his release in December.

After he was finally released from the prison hospital, Mr. Zhou had no appetite and was constantly fatigued. He drooled and was incontinent. He often wandered outside in the middle of the night. Gradually, he became bedridden, paralysed, and lapsed in and out of unconsciousness. He became emaciated and had difficulty talking.

Imprisoned in 2008

Mr. Zhou, from Xinyu City, Jiangxi Province worked at the Changhong Mechanical Factory. He was arrested a number of times over the course of the persecution of Falun Gong, his most recent arrest occurring in late December 2007, for distributing materials exposing the persecution. After being held at a detention centre for six months, he was taken to the Nanchang Prison in Jiangxi Province.

On the way to the prison, Mr. Zhou fell when getting out of the vehicle, breaking his jaw. His family was not notified of his sentence until he was sent to prison.