This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.

The original was posted on /r/todayilearned by /u/yooolka on 2025-03-09 22:33:52+00:00.

Original Title: TIL that when Stalin was dying, his doctor was unavailable because he was being tortured by the secret police. Paralyzed and unable to speak, Stalin lay untreated for 12 h while his terrified subordinates debated calling a doctor, fearing he might recover and punish them for acting without orders.