Venezuelan political prisoner denied medical care for seven years, family claims

Oswaldo García Palomo, a retired colonel in Venezuela's National Guard and a political prisoner, has spent over seven years incarcerated without receiving any medical attention, his family alleges. His son, Oswaldo García Padilla, stated that the 62-year-old military officer suffers from severe spinal pain and vision issues, and lacks the glasses he used before his detention.

"My father hasn't seen a doctor in seven years," García Padilla told El Nacional, detailing his father's plight. He also highlighted a family history of heart disease, emphasizing the need for regular medical check-ups, which have been consistently denied despite family requests.

García Palomo was arrested in 2019, accused of conspiring against the government of Nicolás Maduro. He has been moved between various detention facilities, including Sebin and Dgcim, before his current confinement at El Rodeo I prison for over two and a half years.

Adding to the family's distress are severe communication restrictions. García Padilla revealed he only recently spoke to his father for about five minutes, the first time in over two and a half years since his transfer to El Rodeo. His mother had a brief 30-second call after a recent earthquake.

The family also reports significant hurdles in sending letters, food, or supplements to García Palomo, with processes sometimes taking months and authorities occasionally refusing to accept communications. The situation reportedly worsened after a double earthquake on June 24, increasing fears of being trapped.