Julian Assange Lung Problems: Ecuador Seeks Safe Passage To Hospital If Condition Worsens

Julian Assange has lung problems that leave the WikiLeaks founder in need of regular doctor care, the Ecuadorean ambassador to Britain said on Wednesday.

The chronic lung ailment comes as Assange has been holed up inside Ecuador’s embassy in London, where he has been since June. Assange is there to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is sought for questioning over rape and sexual assault allegations.

British authorities are ready to arrest Assange if he leaves the embassy, Reuters reported. The building is under constant surveillance from police.

But as ambassador Ana Alban told a local television network, Julian Assange’s lung problems put the WikiLeaks founder in a precarious situation.

“He has a chronic lung complaint that could get worse any time. The Ecuadorean state is covering Mr Assange’s medical costs and we have arranged for regular doctor visits to check on his health,” Alban said.

Julian Assange’s lung problems have not kept him from speaking out. From inside the Ecuadorean embassy, Assange accused Senator Joe Lieberman and Congressman Peter King of pressuring companies to block funds to WikiLeaks, the Telegraph reported.

After WikiLeaks published more than 250,000 confidential State Department cables in December 2010, a number of payment firms set in place blockades of payments to WikiLeaks. Assange has pleaded with the European Union to life the blockade, which he said cost his website more than 95 percent of its revenue and caused staff to take pay cuts of up to 40 percent.

As he fights to restore funding to WikiLeaks, Assange’s health is still in question. Ecuador has noted that it’s worried about what would happen if Julian Assange’s lung problems worsen, and have asked Britain to guarantee him safe passage to a hospital if he comes in need of medical treatment.