Zhang Yu, a physician in the Department of Medical Oncology at Peking University Third Hospital
A Beijing-based oncologist recently posted an online article exposing poor medical practices in China’s oncology treatment field, targeting one of his Shanghai counterparts, pointing out that the latter had problems with drug abuse and induced treatment. The incident sparked widespread public attention, but a statement made by the National Health Commission last week made it clear that authorities appear to be trying to cool down the case. The latest development in this case, however, is that the Beijing doctor who revealed the inside story is unwilling to rest on his laurels.
Direct accusations of improper medical practice by peers
On April 18, Zhang Yu, an attending physician at the Department of Oncology and Chemotherapy of Peking University Third Hospital, posted an article on the Zhihu platform, exposing the shady practices of Chinese tumor treatment, pointing out that the high mortality rate of Chinese tumor patients is not only related to late detection, but also to a large extent to unregulated and even wrong treatment. He said that these malpractices not only increase the cost of patients, but also bring them pain and even death, and such chaos is found in general local hospitals and tertiary hospitals.
He also pointed the finger at Lu Wei, deputy chief of general surgery at Xinhua Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine (referred to in the article as “Dr. L, a general surgeon at a well-known tertiary hospital in Shanghai”), for treating a patient with advanced gastric cancer with unnecessary genetic sequencing, prescribing inappropriate drugs, and recommending ineffective, expensive and illegal cellular immunotherapy. He also recommended cellular immunotherapy, which was ineffective, expensive and illegal, resulting in a tenfold increase in the patient’s medical bills and an earlier death. On the same day, Zhang Yu deleted the article, noting that he could not handle the stress and possible consequences.
He Anquan, a former Shanghai surgeon, told the station that he was not surprised by Zhang Yu’s expose of the inside story, as the phenomenon is very common. He said that China’s local government, health authorities and hospitals have long formed a “chain of interests” that pays tribute to each other, and that this is clearly not just a problem for individual doctors, but a product of the entire medical system.
“The malpractice that Dr. Zhang Yu pointed out will not be changed in the slightest because the entire vast medical system, the entire industry, and the entire society is singing the same four-letter song: money for life.”
Once the story was reported, it immediately sparked a strong reaction from public opinion. Even the official media Xinhua News Agency published an opinion piece saying that the authorities should find out who is forcing the informant to delete the post and follow the trail to uncover the “medical black hand”. Many netizens said that it is rare to find a doctor with such a conscience; some even said that this doctor is even greater than Li Wenliang, who posted about the Xin Guan epidemic in Wuhan; others said that excessive medical care has been a systemic problem in China for a long time.
Our reporter could not immediately reach Zhang Yu or Lu Wei for comment, but according to Chinese media reports, Zhang Yu is currently on suspension, while Lu Wei’s clinical care has been suspended and is under investigation.
Dr. Zhang Yu’s May 5, 2021 re-vocalization challenging the National Health Care Commission panel immediately sparked heated debate (web screenshot)
Who is the culprit?
In the article, Zhang Yu also pointed out that the primary reason for these malpractices is the lack of regulation. The fact that some doctors “squeeze the most out of their patients without being punished” is one of the root causes of doctor-patient conflicts. He suggested that the most important way to treat this chaos is to rely on legal support, and the state should consider adding additional provisions on medical disputes and developing relevant fast-track procedures to significantly reduce the difficulty of patients’ rights.
Beijing-based commentator Hua Po, who has followed the case closely, said he empathizes with Zhang Yu’s revelations that these chaotic conditions have existed for more than a day or two.
“For some patients, although they don’t know the exact insider story, such fraudulent incidents of being ‘fiercely cut leeks’ by medical institutions and doctors when going to hospitals (for medical treatment) happen from time to time, and small illnesses are treated in a big way, emptying your pockets, so to speak.”
Immediately after Zhang Yu’s lengthy article was published, China’s National Health Commission issued an announcement stating that they would immediately launch an investigation into the matter. Late last month, an official from the agency said they had organized authoritative experts in the country’s relevant fields to review the treatment process for the stomach cancer patient’s case in the article and concluded that the treatment principles were largely in line with the norms.
Zhang Yu said in another post Wednesday that he was disappointed, angry and concerned that the panel’s conclusion was a “complete lie” and that it was an endorsement of all medical malpractice. He also asked for permission to hold a public debate with the entire panel of experts to set the record straight. Zhang Yu told China Economic Observer on Thursday that if he did not get a response to his request, he would press the issue again and then “write an article and broadcast it live” to “explain the truth” to a wider audience.
Hu Jia, a Beijing-based rights activist who noticed the incident, said he admired the doctor’s courage to speak out, but also worried that Zhang Yu might have to pay a huge price for it.
“Whether the problems they reflect are solved or they are solved as problems is something we are very concerned about, because these people who expose the inner workings of their own profession (are) likely to be eliminated out of the system against their will.”
Zhang Yu posted an update on Zhihu on Wednesday saying he was prepared for any consequences and hoped that what he was doing would have value.
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