Harvey Weinstein is reportedly filing a lawsuit against the city of New York following a recent cancer diagnosis, alleging medical negligence for the refusal to allow outside treatment. The producer is currently held at Rikers Island as he awaits retrial for additional sex crime charges.
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Last month, Weinstein was diagnosed with a rare form of bone marrow cancer. His spokesperson criticized NYC Health + Hospitals and Bellevue Hospital for allegedly denying him necessary medical attention, stating, “We are appalled by the ongoing medical negligence shown by NYC Health + Hospitals and Bellevue.” The spokesperson later clarified that the concern is not with the doctors at Rikers or Bellevue, but instead with the decision not to place him at Bellevue for the duration of his trial, Daily Mail reported.
The lawsuit listed NYC Health + Hospitals and Bellevue Hospital as defendants, stating Weinstein’s right to adequate medical treatment while in custody. The suit was filed shortly after he required emergency surgery at Bellevue, where he had fluid drained from around his heart and lungs due to severe chest pain. In addition to the recent cancer diagnosis, Weinstein has faced numerous health issues over the years, including COVID-19, double pneumonia, and severe cardiac complications.
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Following his 2020 conviction, Weinstein was rushed to the hospital with complaints of chest pain and high blood pressure, leading him to undergo a stent procedure to clear a blocked artery. Despite his medical issues, Weinstein continued to deny all allegations of sexual misconduct and maintain his innocence.
The retrial has been postponed because of the new charges filed in September and the evidence of additional accusations presented by prosecutors.