台北六月雪 陳順勝教授台中三度探扁

Dr. Chen Shuen-Shen, who is an expert of neurology and psychiatry, visited President Chen for a third time after he was forcefully transferred to Taichung Prison. This visit is also after the recent attempted suicide by President Chen. I translate his account of his visit below, not word for word. 

Jay Tu 

台北六月雪 陳順勝教授台中三度探扁 
Snow Storm of June in Taipei 

My Third Visit to See President Chen in Taichung Prison

陳總統民間醫療小組成員 陳順勝教授

Professor Chen Shuen-Shen, member of volunteer medical team for President Chen) 

June 4, 2013 

Translated by Professor Jay Tu

今早開完晨會，看完門診，請假搭高鐵來台中探望阿扁總統。晚上趕到台北向醫療小組報告看扁結果。 

After I finished my clinic duties at my hospital in the morning, I took the rest of the day off and took the high speed train to Taichung to visit President Chen in the afternoon. In the evening, I presented my visit report to the volunteer medical team in Taipei. 

下午在立法院司法及法制委員會尤美女立委的帶領下，我第三度進入台中培德監獄探視陳總統，同行除我之外還有紐約回來的陳隆志教授與黃先生。由於是尤委員帶入，第一次獲邀到張秉誠典獄長辦公室打招呼小坐。

My visit was arranged by DPP legislator Ms. Yu and I was accompanied by Prof. Chen Long-Chi and Mr. Huang. First time, I was able to say Hi to the Taichung Prison warden, Mr. Chang. 

我帶了診察包來，我們提出要求攜帶進獄為陳總統診療，遭屬下與典獄長拒絕，說醫療行為後，我們在外頭會亂講，上面的意思，不要為難他。我在想，即使您把我剝光了，我還是有辦法看病。 

I brought with me my diagnostic bag and requested permission from warden Chang to let me conduct treatment for President Chen. Warden Chang refused and told me that it would cause trouble for him because his superior won't allow it. However, I thought to myself that I could still conduct a proper treatment for President Chen even if you stripped me off all my belongings.

三點整進阿扁住的鐵皮屋，屋頂上在灑水試圖降溫，室內電風扇猛吹，阿扁總統還是冒汗，溼透 T-shirt，一旁來探監的扁嫂，怕涼須避開吹風。夫婦兩一起迎接我們。 

At 3 pm, I entered the shack constructed with sheet metal to house President Chen. They springled water on the roof to keep the temperature down and had the electric fan running at full speed, but President Chen was still dripping with sweat and his shirt was all wet. Mrs. Chen was visiting him but she stayed out of the air flow of the fan to avoid catching cold. Both of them greeted us. 

首先在尤委員寒暄之後，同鄉陳隆志教授敘舊。黃先生提起從前與日後阿扁對台晚的貢獻，台灣人有目共睹，希望陳總統珍惜生命。此時陳總統突然急躁激動，說法務部新聞稿說謊，他的輕生是因為重度憂鬱症，而不是單純輕放顏清標法案與重新民進黨入黨的打擊。他說法務部發佈他的輕生新聞沒有尊重他的自主權與個資保護，沒他的同意與會簽。 

After exchanging some pleasantries with the visitors, President Chen suddenly became emotional and proclaimed that Ministry of Justice (MOJ) lied in their news release on his suicide attempt. President Chen told us that his suicide attempt was due to his severe depression, not merely due to the news regarding the new pardon law designed to set KMT Yen free and the obstacles he faces to become a DPP member. He complained that MOJ did not respect his privacy and released the information with their own speculation without his permission.

重度憂鬱症與額葉萎縮使他現在的情緒與思維，強迫性地停留在無望無助的憂鬱狀態，白天親朋好友、立委、醫療小組、與阿扁們來探監，讓他疏解不少；夜晚一到，重度憂鬱折磨他。在北榮的期間，周元華主任安排每週有三位精神科醫師，各安排一個小時的治療，我也兩週一次兩小時的神經內科診療，加上藥物治療控制他的病情。 

Due to his severe depression and the decay of his front brain lobe, his emotion and mind are unable to escape the state of hopelessness and helplessness. During the day, the visitors, from his family, friends, legislators, and medical team, are able to keep him company to release his tension. However, when the night falls with all visitors being sent away, loneliness and depression torture him relentlessly. When he was at Taipei General Veteran Hospital, Dr. Chou Yuan-Hwa, his appointed psychiatrist, arranged three one hour treatment sessions for him with psychiatrists each week and I myself was able to see him every other week for two hours. With medication, we were able to release and contain his symptoms. 

總統陳水扁前晚(3日)，再因憂鬱症，情緒非常低落，加上回想起特別費除罪，全國所有民代、村里長皆免刑責，全國只有他為拼外交的國務機要費，受罪關大牢，悲從中來，於9時30分在浴室以連接三條毛巾，平躺束脖子吊六十公分的水龍頭上輕生，喉嚨異聲與監視器失聯，引起隔室看護受刑人注意，過來解救。他說獲救時，不可能向這些台灣囝仔講他輕生的原因，所以法務部新聞稿說謊。 

In the evening of June 3, President Chen's mood was down again due to his depression. On top of that, he thought of the new pardon law which exonerates all embezzlement cases of discretionary funds in Taiwan for everybody except him, even though he did not embezzle any money but used his presidential discretionary fund for top-secret diplomatic efforts to fight for Taiwan's survival on the international stage. But here he is, the only one who is not exonerated and is serving lengthy jail terms. With his sadness becoming unbearable, he tied three pieces of towel together with one end around his neck and the other end to a faucet. He then laid himself flat to choke himself to death. The inmates assigned to watch over him noticed that he disappeared from the monitor screen and heard some choking noise. They rushed over to save him. He did not tell these young Taiwanese inmates why he attempted suicide. Therefore, it is false when MOJ states that he told the rescuers why he wanted to kill himself. 

當時他有一再要求通知總台，要看醫師，拖到一個小時候，才來位培德醫院非神經精神科的住院醫師，不明情況，問他什麼地方難過，被他拒絕。直到十一點四十分監方才通知中榮精神科主任到來，看二十分鐘離去，當時他一直想走，精神科用藥也讓他走到這地步，無效不如退出。

Afterward, he requested to see a doctor repeatedly. After over an hour of wait, a resident of Pei-Deh Hospital finally showed up. This doctor is not a specialist in neurology or psychiatric treatment and he did not even know why he was called to see President Chen. The doctor asked him where his discomfort was but President Chen refused to answer to this clueless doctor. Around 11:40 pm, the prison authority finally informed the psychiatric director of Taichung General Veteran Hospital, who visited him for about 20 minutes. He simply wanted to quit. Even with the psychiatric medication, his condition has not improved and he wanted to give up living. 

民間醫療小組召開記者會指出，「喝花酒的可無罪出獄，台灣卻差點死了一位總統！」民進黨立委高志鵬則說，質疑陳水扁演戲的人，完全沒有人性。

The volunteer medical team called a news conference. They pointed out the ridicule of releasing someone who spent public money to wine and dine in a night club, while almost letting a former president of Taiwan die. DPP legislator Kao Chih-Peng pleaded for humanity to those who accused President Chen of acting in his suicide attempt. 

陳其邁表示，陳水扁在北榮的主治醫師周元華曾說「最重要的是預防自殺」，但發生事情之後，「台中榮總的居家治療科跑到哪裡了？」他直斥，這是侵犯醫療人權，馬英九總統應受最嚴厲譴責！ 

DPP legislator, Dr. Chen Chih-Mai, pointed out that Dr. Chou Yuan-Hwa alerted the government the importance of suicide prevention. However, "Where was the medical care which was supposed to be offered by Taichung General Veteran Hospital?", demanded by Dr. Chen. Ma should be condemned for his role in violating the medical human rights of President Chen. 

馬偕醫師陳喬琪表示，陳水扁對死了然於胸，認為用死表示清白是最有用的方式，而且曾經自殺的人，絕對會再自殺，一個前總統自殺是國家的悲劇。

Dr. Chen Chiao-Chi of Makay Hospital, a renowned psychiatrist, told reporters that President Chen knew very well what death meant to him. He considered death as the most effective way to declare his innocence. A patient who attempted suicide will try again. It is a national tragedy when we harbor the circumstance leading to the suicide of a former president. 

今天終於「六月雪」了，台北降下大冰雹，上午一場暴雨加冰雹，讓位於重慶南路司法大廈裡的不少法官與職員驚呼連連，司法院4樓的憲法法庭，因屋頂黑色防水布被狂風整片掀開，垂掛在牆面，而防水布下方的保麗龍片則被吹得碎落一地。警訊啊，台灣的司法！ 

Today, an extremely rare "Snow Storm of June" hit. Hail storm raid Taipei, bombarding the building of Judicial Tower, causing panic among judges and legal staff inside. The tarp covering the 4th floor roof of the constitution court was blown away by the storm (see picture below), and its underneath sheathing was fractured into fragments, spreading all over the ground below. It is an OMEN! Be aware, the self-degrading judicial system of Taiwan.