By Tasting Balzano
02 Dec 2024, 19:41 PM EST
Disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan following a worrying blood test result, according to statements from his legal team on Monday.
The news, initially reported by People, suggests that the incident occurs amid allegations of the alleged medical abuse he has received at the Rikers Island prison, where he is currently serving his sentence.
Imran Ansari, Weinstein’s lawyer, reported that his client was admitted for urgent treatment and will remain under medical supervision until his condition is stable. “Harvey Weinstein has faced poor medical care and inhumane conditions at Rikers Island. “This situation is a clear violation of their constitutional rights,” Ansari said in a statement.
Weinstein, 72, was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia in October, in addition to suffering from other medical conditions such as diabetes. According to his spokesperson, Juda Engelmayer, the sanitary conditions and lack of care in the New York prison have worsened his health condition. “Mr. Weinstein has been subjected to treatment that is not only medical negligence, but constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.”said Engelmayer.
The Rikers Island prison complex has come under fire for the deplorable conditions in which inmates are kept. Recently, a federal judge ordered that the prison system be monitored by federal authorities due to the unconstitutional dangers to which inmates are exposed.
Weinstein’s lawsuit
Harvey Weinstein filed a lawsuit against the city of New York, alleging negligence and inhumane conditions at the Rikers Island prison.
The former producer is seeking compensation of at least $5 million, denouncing that he has been subjected to extreme temperatures, dirty clothes for weeks, and a lack of clean underwear. He also accuses delays in the treatment of his serious health problems, such as chronic myeloid leukemia and diabetes.
His lawyers describe the environment at Rikers as degrading and violating the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits cruel punishment. Weinstein demands justice and proper medical care.
The case of the former producer is still in process
Weinstein, who faces a new trial for sex crimes in New York in 2025 after his 2020 conviction was overturned, was also found guilty in Los Angeles on charges of rape and sexual assault. Meanwhile, his legal team continues to denounce the conditions that the producer faces in prison, arguing that his health requires priority attention.
The city Department of Corrections did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Weinstein’s situation highlights criticism of the prison system and the need to guarantee basic rights to all detainees, regardless of their legal background.
Continue reading:
- Harvey Weinstein will not return to court
- Harvey Weinstein found guilty of rape at Los Angeles trial
- Harvey Weinstein: the former Hollywood producer is sentenced to another 16 years in prison for sexual crimes despite asking for clemency