At least 15 people died after going to the center, authorities explained. The clinic’s founder, Wu Pengfei, promoted online practices and prescribed patients medications containing toxic herbs.
Singapore (/Agencies) – A traditional Chinese medicine clinic in the central province of Hubei is being investigated for the deaths of 15 people seeking cancer treatment. The founder of the clinic, Wu Pengfei, stated in some content circulating on the internet that he could use traditional Chinese medicine to cure tumors.
An article published in the newspaper BeijingNews He explained that between April 18 and May 31 (opening and closing date of the clinic), more than 390 patients visited the center. Of them, 15 died and 20 have seriously deteriorated health. So far, Wu Pengfei has been sentenced to pay 417,000 yuan (more than $57,000) in fines for committing “illegal acts”, such as employing non-medical personnel to carry out medical practices and failing to record purchases and prescriptions of medicines.
In a promotional video circulated online, a colleague of Wu’s said he had “unique medical skills” and was the “first person in China to cure cancer using traditional Chinese medicine.” But Hou Yuanxiang – that’s his name – had already been convicted before for producing and selling counterfeit medicines. In promotional videos, Hou also claimed that 3,000 patients had been cured of cancer thanks to Wu’s practices, and that the clinic had cure rates of more than 80%.
Wang Xiaoying said to BeijingNews that his brother Xiaobo went to the clinic when he was diagnosed with liver cancer in February. The family learned about the clinic through an online account that promoted its services. After paying 18,620 yuan, Xiaobo underwent seven days of moxibustion treatment, during which an herb called moxa is burned on or near the skin. After a consultation that lasted only five minutes, he was also prescribed medication – his sister continues – but it had no effect. After two weeks of treatment, his brother had lost 5 kilos of weight. Xiaobo had to be hospitalized for ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdomen), and he died a month later.
A doctor who worked at the clinic, whose name BeijingNews does not report, explained that Chinese aconite, a toxic root, was used in the preparation of the medicines.
The news generated some indignation among Chinese users. Some highlighted the arrogance of the founder, who called the clinic Yaowang Valleywhich means “valley of the medicine king”, while others have noted that those who offer “secret medicines passed down for generations” should be distrusted.
Earlier this week, Chinese authorities issued a notice saying that “in-depth investigations” were being carried out into the clinic’s activities. Officials also thanked network users for alerting them to the issue and promised that the results of the investigation would be communicated “in a timely manner.”
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