Harvey Weinstein rushed to hospital after 'alarming blood test'

Harvey Weinstein has been taken to hospital after an "alarming blood test result", his lawyers have said.

The 72-year-old required "immediate medical attention" following the test and was taken from the Rikers Island jail complex to Bellevue Hospital in New York City, according to his lawyers.

Weinstein's lawyers said: "Harvey Weinstein, who has been suffering from a lack of adequate medical care and enduring deplorable and inhumane conditions on Rikers Island, has been transported to Bellevue Hospital for emergent treatment due to an alarming blood test result that requires immediate medical attention.

"It is expected that he will remain there until his condition stabilises."

They added: "His deprivation of care is not only medical malpractice, but a violation of his constitutional rights."

The former movie mogul is awaiting a retrial over his 2020 rape and sexual assault conviction, which was overturned by New York's highest court in April.

The case is set to be retried in 2025. Weinstein has denied any wrongdoing.

Last month his lawyers filed a legal claim against New York City alleging he is receiving substandard medical treatment in unhygienic conditions at the jail.

The notice of the claim accuses the facility of failing to manage Weinstein's medical conditions, which include chronic myeloid leukaemia and diabetes.

It also accuses it of negligence, ranging from "freezing" conditions to a lack of clean clothes.

The legal claim seeks $5m (£3.9m) in damages.

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Weinstein had emergency surgery to remove fluid around his heart and lungs in September and in July he was in hospital after testing positive for COVID-19 and contracting double pneumonia.

His spokesperson said: "Mr Weinstein, who is suffering from a number of illnesses, including leukaemia, has been deprived the medical attention that someone in his medical state deserves, prisoner or not.

"In many ways, this mistreatment constitutes cruel and unusual punishment."

He was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of another rape. His 16-year sentence in that case still stands, but his lawyers launched an appeal against that verdict in June, claiming he did not get a fair trial.

Weinstein still faces two other criminal counts - a criminal sexual act charge and a rape charge - to which he has pleaded not guilty.

He also pleaded not guilty to an additional charge of sexual assault in September.

(c) Sky News 2024: Harvey Weinstein rushed to hospital after 'alarming blood test'