A man from central China narrowly escaped death after receiving acupuncture from an unlicensed practitioner who falsely claimed to be able to cure a mysterious “air bump.” The incident has sparked outrage and renewed calls for stricter enforcement of medical regulations in the country.
The victim, identified only as Gao, sought treatment in February at an unconventional setting — the lounge of a cybercafe in Zhengzhou — where the so-called practitioner, introduced by a friend, conducted the session. The man, who claimed Gao did not have a tumour but a non-existent condition called an “air bump,” inserted acupuncture needles into Gao’s back. Moments later, Gao experienced severe breathing difficulties and lost control of his bodily functions.
He was rushed to a local hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with respiratory failure and pneumothorax, a condition caused by punctured lungs. Gao was admitted to the intensive care unit in critical condition. Medical staff stated that any delay in treatment by even a minute could have proven fatal.
Initially, the unlicensed individual promised to take responsibility, but he soon vanished and blocked Gao’s wife, Zhang, on social media. Determined to find the man and seek justice, Zhang contacted Henan TV and eventually tracked down the man’s home.
There, his father admitted that his son was a so-called “barefoot doctor,” a term historically used in China to describe minimally trained rural health workers. The father revealed that his son lacked any formal medical qualifications and had merely learned acupuncture and massage techniques by observing others.
Zhang’s friend, who had introduced the practitioner, confessed to having previously received treatment for minor ailments like neck pain from the same man. Although aware that the practitioner had no official place of practice, he admitted he “did not find it odd.”
According to Chinese law, only licensed professionals are permitted to perform medical procedures, and only in approved facilities. A spokesperson from the local health commission confirmed that documentation regarding the incident has been submitted to police and prosecutors, and legal proceedings are expected to follow.
The case has reignited public concern over unregulated alternative medicine and the dangers posed by self-proclaimed healers operating without oversight.
Sources By Agencies
