But the cost issue is precisely what may push medical parole over the top.

More than 110 inmates have died while awaiting news on medical parole.

Ms. Gao suffers from a heart condition and her family has asked for immediate medical parole.

Authorities had turned down earlier requests for medical parole.

However, he was released on medical parole in July 2012.

Officially, he was freed today on medical parole to seek treatment abroad.

On his doctor's advice, he applied for medical parole on 31 May 2007.

Granting medical parole was a way to alleviate America's concern while saving face.

To most people, there would have been no choice whatsoever: whether to remain in prison or to accept an offer of medical parole and exile.

"Every year, China's judiciary department releases 10,000 prisoners on medical parole."