The fate of Otto Warmbier

How far is too far when it comes to the treatment of American citizens being held prisoner for crimes abroad? The case of Otto Warmbier is one that brings this question back into the forefront America’s attention.What happens when the treatment of a prisoner leaves them in a coma, and could possibly causes irreparable damage to their brain?

Otto Warmbier is an American college student who was recently detained in a North Korean prison. As expected, the act which landed him in jail would possibly have only warranted a warning, a small fine at the most, had Warmbier been in the states. His crime of tearing down of a propaganda poster from a wall in the hotel that he was staying in landed him a seventeen month stay in prison. Yet Warmbiers imprisonment and the severity of his crimes are not where the interest in this story lies. The uniqueness like in the fact that Otto Warmbier, was for reasons debatable, in a deep coma for the extent of his prison stay.

Speculation:

Like most stories, the window for speculation is left wide open for the American public, government, and media to draw their own conclusions. For better or worse. According to Fox News, this coma like state was induced when Warmbier was given medicine to help him sleep. Yet the question remains; what if this was more than an adverse reaction so sleeping medicine? Could it be that the drug administered to Warmbier was not simply a drug store sleeping aid? One could easily paint the narrative of a strict foreign, eager to teach a lesson to an arrogant entitled young American. Given the relationship between the two countries, I would say such a narrative could be closer to reality than one would think.

The Next Steps:

The United States Government has thus far made clear that to break a law in another country is to subject one’s self to the repercussions set in place by said country. That much is clear, yet the circumstances of this particular incident may warrant a unique set of events to follow. Aside from being placed in the comma against his will, it has recently been reported that Warmbier may be suffering brain damage following the ordeal. Dr. Daniel Kanter of the director of neurological care at the University of Cincinnati Health where Warmbier is being treated had a few words in regards to his condition. “…he shows no signs of understanding language, responding to verbal commands or awareness of his surroundings. He has not spoken.” What could be permanent and irreparable damage has been done to a young man, an American citizen. Will our government take offense? If so, what form will their displeasure take? Situations such as these require a certain amount of diplomatic know how that I’m sure our government will be able to good effect. Yet one can not help but wonder if there are those who feel as if North Korea.If an overwhelming majority of American officials and citizens feel this way, then how will our government proceed in their attempts to balance the scales? If the damage to this young man is life altering, will there be any way to make things right? One can only speculate an outcome. All that is left to do is to wait, and hope Warmbier recovers completely.