Medical treatment continues for Liu Xiaobo

According to information released by the hospital late on Friday, doctors on Friday continued to provide supportive medical treatment for Liu Xiaobo.

Liu had a bad appetite, and the fluid in the abdomen increased on Friday, so doctors conducted a thoracocentesis, or pleural tap, to reduce the accumulation fluid, the First Hospital of China Medical University said on its website.

On Thursday, the hospital said that doctors had to stop using sorafenib, a drug to fight liver cancer, and Chinese medicines on Liu, because of his deteriorating condition and poor liver function.

Liu was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2009 for engaging in activities aimed at overthrowing the government. He was paroled after being diagnosed with liver cancer in June and admitted to the First Hospital of China Medical University in Shenyang, Liaoning province.