WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration wants an American imprisoned in Cuba to see his personal physician amid concerns he may have a cancerous growth on his shoulder.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland says Maryland native Alan Gross should be released. Short of that, she says Gross should be allowed to see a U.S. doctor.
Gross, 63, has been in prison since 2009. He was a U.S. government subcontractor when he was arrested for bringing illegal communications equipment into the country. His case has become a thorn in U.S.-Cuba relations.
Cuba says Gross’ health is normal.
But an American physician who reviewed medical records sent by Cuba says Gross may have a cancerous growth. Radiologist Dr. Alan A. Cohen believes the mass appeared months ago and must be presumed cancerous unless proven harmless.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
