Doctors called at ‘short notice’ to see WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in jail

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s dad says doctors have been called in at ‘short notice’ to treat his son in London’s maximum security prison tonight.

Exclusive: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is receiving medical treatment in London’s maximum security prison tonight.

Assange has reportedly been in ill health and has lost a substantial amount of weight, according to his supporters.

His father John Shipton said that doctors had been called in at short notice.

“My visit was double booked, it has been cancelled,” he said.

“(The doctor’s visit) must be at short notice because a double booking occurred.”

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Julian Assange's father John Shipton says his visit with his son was double booked. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

Assange has been fighting two international extradition claims.

The United States wants him on 18 charges that carry a maximum of 175 years’ jail.

Sweden wants him on a rape allegation over an incident in 2010.

A Swedish court this week rejected an application for Assange to be detained in his absence.

But it was only a technical victory for Assange as the investigation will continue.

Swedish prosecutors now want to interview him in jail.

Assange supporters say he has lost a lot of weight. Picture: AFP

The next court date in the United States matter may be held in London’s Belmarsh prison.

Assange did not appear via video link at a previous hearing because of his illness.

He became worse after the United States increased the charges against him.

Mr Shipton said he was awaiting full details of Assange’s illness.

But he said the “18 months of isolation” had worn his son down.

Belmarsh prison is seen behind its walls in south East London. Picture: AFP

Assange has been staying in the Ecuadorean embassy in London for almost seven years before he was arrested in April.

But in the year before his arrest he had been restricting access to the internet and visitors.

The Ecuadorean government claimed he had behaved erratically in the embassy.

Assange denied the rape claim and has said that the leaks of classified documents, for which the US was chasing him, was public interest journalism.

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Originally published as Doctors called at ‘short notice’ to see WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in jail