A dying American who has been jailed in Dubai for 15 years may have only a few weeks to live, according to a Houston doctor who reviewed his medical records, prompting Senator Ted Cruz to warn the United Arab Emirates that “Americans they are looking”. “
Newly obtained medical records show that Zack Shahin, a naturalized American from Texas, is suffering from cardiovascular and neurological problems, thyroid, gastroenteritis and prostate conditions, as well as infections that are causing his flesh to rot, among other ailments. His family maintains Shahin’s innocence and said the US State Department has taken little action.
“In summary, this patient has disease in multiple organ systems and his long-term prognosis is dire,” wrote Dr. Sanford Lubetkin, board-certified in internal medicine and cardiology, in a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken. asking for help. . “His general health conditions are unacceptable at best.”
FAMILY MEMBER OF DYING AMERICAN JAILED IN DUBAI BEGS FOR MERCY:
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After reviewing the medical records, Lubetkin called on the State Department to take “whatever action is necessary and appropriate” to facilitate the American’s release, warning that Shahin “could die within weeks” if nothing is done. The prisoner’s family also sent Shahin’s medical records to the State Department since, to their knowledge, officials have never been able to obtain those records.
“We are not medical experts, but it is always helpful to have a more complete picture of your father’s current state of health,” the State Department wrote Tuesday in an email reviewed by Fox News. “We’re still working on your father’s case and I’ll be sure to come back when I have important updates to share.”
The State Department did not respond to Fox News’ request for comment.
Cruz has been in contact with the State Department and the United Arab Emirates advocating for Shahin’s release.
“It is time for Zack Shahin to come home and reunite with his family,” the Texas Republican told Fox News in a statement. “I have seen the reports on his health and hospitalization, and the undeniable fact is that he is getting worse, not better.”
“This issue is no longer about alleged wrongdoing but about basic humanitarian compassion,” Cruz added. “The Emirates are close and valued allies, and the Americans are watching closely to make sure they do the right thing.”
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Zack Shahin still has more than 40 years left on his sentence, but his family said they don’t expect him to survive beyond the net few weeks.
(Courtesy of the Shahin family)
shahin headed a successful property development company in the United Arab Emirates, but resigned in 2008 when political fallout followed the death of Dubai’s ruler. He was arrested shortly thereafter and eventually convicted of fraud, embezzlement and other financial crimes.
The world’s big four accounting firms audited his former company during the years the Lebanese was chief executive and found no financial losses or evidence of the crimes he was accused of, according to Shahin’s family.
Martin Lonergan, who was detained with Shahin in 2020, previously detailed the inhumane living conditions at the prison in the United Arab Emirates. He described his former prison partner as a “broken man” who is “rotting away.”
Shahin was transferred to a hospital in the fall. Medical files and testimony from him, both obtained by Fox News, show that Shahin has undergone eight procedures since 2019, including surgery in October and surgery in November to remove rotten flesh from pseudomonas infections.
These botched surgeries caused further complications and an infection that spread to Shahin’s lungs, according to Lubetkin.
Zack Shahin, 58, has been illegally detained in a Dubai prison for 15 years for crimes he did not commit, his family said.
(Courtesy of the Shahin family)
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Shahin also developed a hernia that cannot be operated on due to his poor health and has coronary problems that put him at risk of a serious cardiac event, the doctor wrote in his letter to Blinken.
Additionally, Lubetkin noted that Shahin suffers from a multitude of neurological problems caused by prison living conditions. An Emirati neurosurgeon has recommended spinal surgery.
Due to this series of health problems, Shahin said he is prescribed 22 medications daily. But scarcity prevents you from getting up to four of those at any given time.
