News Reports Say That Hugo Chávez Is in Serious Condition, Rushed Back to Hospital, Yet Chávez Denies He’s Having Health Problems Following Cancer Chemo Treatment
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on September 29, 2011
There are reports swirling that Hugo Chavez has been rushed to the hospital following chemotherapy - Chavez denies claims that his health is failing
So, is the health of socialist Venezuelan despot Hugo Chávez failing? News reports say he was rushed to the hospital for kidney failure. Chávez’s Information Minister Andres Izarra denies the reports, as does Chávez.
Considering how Chávez and his administration try to manipulate the news, it’s difficult to say what is indeed fact, what is rumor, what is socialist spin and damage control.
In June, when reports of the Venezuelan president leaked that he had cancer, his officials scrambled to underplay his cancer and to declare he was not seriously ill. Rumors and speculations of his death also circulated at that time, which obviously weren’t true.
From Telegraph, Hugo Chavez in hospital ‘for kidney failure’:
Hugo Chavez, who has been fighting cancer, was rushed to a military hospital for emergency care following kidney failure, according to reports.
The leftist, staunchly anti-US stalwart Chavez went into the Military Hospital in Caracas on Tuesday morning, the report on the newspaper’s website said, citing anonymous sources with knowledge of the case.
“He was in fairly serious overall condition,” a source told the Miami-based Spanish-language daily. “When he arrived, he was in quite serious shape and that is why he was brought in for emergency care.”
Venezuela’s Information Minister Andres Izarra appeared to deny the report in a posting on the micro-blogging website Twitter.
“Those who should be admitted are the journalists of the Nuevo Herald, except into a madhouse (instead of a hospital),” Izarra tweeted, without providing further details.
On Sunday, Chavez sought to assure Venezuelans he was healthy, telling them that cancer-fighting chemotherapy treatment has not left him with any debilitating side effects.
From Forbes, Venezuela’s Chavez denies rumors of health setback:
CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Thursday denied rumors of a setback in his health, saying he is at work and expects to finish with cancer treatments soon.
Chavez called state television and urged Venezuelans to “pay no attention to rumors.” He appeared to be referring to a report in El Nuevo Herald of Miami that he had been hospitalized and that his condition might be deteriorating.
“I’m fine,” Chavez said. “I’m here in my place of work and working.”
Chavez said he is taking steroids and other medicines as he recovers from chemotherapy treatments for cancer. He said he is working at “half throttle” while undergoing physical and medical therapy.
He finished a fourth round of chemotherapy in Cuba last week and says he is done with those treatments.
From Wall Street Journal, Chávez Denies Rumors of Health Setback:
Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez attempted to counter a news report that claimed the leader was hospitalized following kidney failure by telephoning state television early Thursday and assuring the country of his recovery from cancer.
“I am doing well,” Mr. Chávez said casually. “There are a group of people who continue to launch rumors.”
Late Wednesday, a Miami-based newspaper citing unnamed sources reported that Mr. Chávez, who has been largely out of the public eye since completing a latest round of chemotherapy last week, had been rushed to a military hospital Tuesday for emergency care.
The Spanish-language El Nuevo Herald reported that Mr. Chávez, who had a cancerous tumor removed on June 20, was seen being led from the presidential palace in a grave condition.
Venezuela’s information minister, Andrés Izarra, seemed to deny the report with a Twitter message that stated “who they have to admit are the reporters of [EL] Nuevo Herald, but into an asylum.”
On Thursday, Mr. Chávez didn’t name the newspaper but said he was recovering on schedule despite feeling the effects of four rounds of chemotherapy.
“I ask the Venezuela people not to pay attention to rumors,” Mr. Chávez said. “I would be the first to communicate any difficulty in the process, outside of the normal.”
From BBC News, Chávez Denies Rumors of Health Setback:
The Miami-based Nuevo Herald newspaper had quoted hospital sources as saying he was in a serious condition.
In a telephone interview with VTV, Mr Chavez said reports about his health were untrue.
“I ask the Venezuelan people to ignore these rumours. If anything happened, I’d be the first person to tell you about any difficulty,” he said.
Rumours about his health were aimed at creating uncertainty, Mr Chavez said.
Mr Chavez said his treatment was going well and that he is finished with chemotherapy.
He had surgery in June to remove a tumour that was later confirmed as cancerous.
However, the exact nature and severity of his cancer have not not been disclosed.
There has been speculation about whether he will be well enough to stand for re-election but Mr Chavez has said he will run in the October 2012 presidential poll.
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