Caught On Cam: China Doctor Punches Elderly Patient During Surgery

A doctor from a private hospital in China was suspended this week as surveillance footage from 2019 resurfaced on social media, where he was seen punching an elderly patient in the face for not cooperating during an eye surgery. The patient has lost sight in her left eye since the surgery, as reported by her family. According to the eye hospital group, Aier China's defence, the now-suspended doctor was unable to control the woman even after anaesthesia was administered and resorted to hitting her. 

The video was first shared on the Chinese social media platform Weibo by Dr Ai Fen, one of the whistleblowers who alerted the world about the initial COVID-19 outbreak. The video went viral worldwide this week, and Aier China was forced to release a statement and suspend the accused doctor, who is also the hospital's dean. The CEO of the hospital branch in Guigang, southwest China, has also been suspended.

Hospital Defends Suspended Doctor

Although Aier China suspended the accused, they released a statement allegedly defending his unprofessionalism and violence, as reported by BBC. The eye hospital chain group stated that the 82-year-old woman was not responding to local anaesthesia which made the surgery inconvenient. 

"The patient had (anaesthetic) intolerance. She moved her head and eyeballs multiple times," Aier China said in their statement. They also said that the patient spoke and understood only a local dialect of Mandarin, due to which she could not understand the doctor's warnings. "He treated the patient roughly in an emergency situation," they stated.

According to local Chinese media reports, the patient lost her sight in her left eye and sustained bruises on her forehead due to the blows, as stated by her family. Her son told the local media that the hospital apologised and paid 500 yuan ($70, £55) as compensation after the surgery.

Aier China also alleged that the hospital had not reported the incident to their headquarters. On December 21, they announced the dismissal of the Guiyang branch's dean and CEO over "serious violations of the group's regulations," including other unspecified accusations against them.

Dr Ai Fen, who threw light on this incident, has been caught up in legal disputes with Aier China since 2021 when she went for surgery at one of their branches, claiming she nearly became blind in one eye post-operation. However, Aier China has denied the allegation.