Rights groups sceptical of state version.

China’s cancer-stricken Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo suffered respiratory failure as his condition worsened on Wednesday, his hospital said, amid anger over his treatment by the authorities and control over information about his health.

The First Hospital of China Medical University in the northeastern city of Shenyang said Mr. Liu’s family declined to have him put on artificial ventilation, which was necessary “to maintain life.”

“The hospital has explained the necessity of tracheal intubation to the patient’s family, the family refused the tracheal intubation,” the hospital said on its website.

The hospital, which earlier reported that he had suffered organ failure, said the 61-year-old democracy advocate’s liver function had deteriorated despite three days of anti-infection and blood treatment.

Mr. Liu risks becoming the first Nobel Peace Prize laureate to die in custody since German pacifist Carl von Ossietzky, who passed away in a hospital while held by the Nazis in 1938.

‘Manipulation of facts’

Human rights groups said it was nearly impossible to obtain independent information about Mr. Liu’s health given that he is in a heavily guarded hospital and his wife, who is with him and also not free. “What is on display is still the manipulation and control of information and dishonesty of the Chinese government,” Human Rights Watch’s Asia researcher Maya Wang said.

The Chinese government has rebuffed international appeals to let Mr. Liu seek treatment abroad, saying he is getting the best possible care from top domestic doctors.