Health & Medical History of Osama bin Laden


All information about bin Laden should be treated with a healthy dose of skepticism.

A Pulitzer Prize-winning 2006 book, The Looming Tower 1, scoffs at previous reports -- apparently well-regarded by the CIA -- that bin Laden has Marfan syndrome or kidney disease.

Vital Statistics

General Appearance       [How tall is Osama bin Laden?] Cardiovascular and General Health Mental State (i.e. Psychiatric) Wounds Diabetes       [Does Osama bin Laden have diabetes?] Kidney (i.e. Renal)       [Does Osama bin Laden need dialysis?] Marfan Syndrome / Bones       [Does Osama bin Laden have Marfan syndrome?] Family History       [All references in curly braces are page numbers from The Looming Tower 1.]
Cited Sources
  1. Wright, Lawrence. The Looming Tower. New York: Vintage, 2006.
    a  p.377  b  p.89  c  p.301  d  p.95  e  p.189
  2. Bergen, Peter L. Holy War, Inc.: Inside the Secret World of Osama bin Laden. New York: Free Press, 2001.
    a  p.44  b  p.185  c  p.57  d  p.32  e  pp.122-123
  3. Frontline television show. Meeting Osama bin Laden. Public Broadcasting Service. KCSM-TV. 5 April 2005.
  4. Robert Windrem. CIA is looking for a few good doctors. NBC News, Dec. 29, 2004.

    Comment: At: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6765861/

  5. Susan Schmidt and Douglas Farah. Al Qaeda's New Leaders. Washington Post. October 29, 2002; Page A01.
  6. Anonymous. Bin Laden Alive as of Late December Report. Reuters; Sun Jun 30, 2002; 2:11 PM ET.
  7. Rohan Gunaratna. [interview]. Charlie Rose television show. KQED-TV. July 14, 2004.
  8. Barton Gellman and Thomas E. Ricks. U.S. Concludes Bin Laden Escaped at Tora Bora Fight. Washington Post. April 17, 2002; Page A01.