Both Western and Chinese medicine have their uses. But this Chinese medicine doctor’s practice apparently disrupted his patients’ treatment plans after he supposedly pressured them into following his. And now, their family members are demanding justice.
The local doctor who claims to practice Chinese medicine was recently exposed by his patients’ families for false practices. As it turns out, his alleged “medical advice” has led to some of his patients’ condition worsening, with one reportedly having passed away.
According to China Press, at least four families have come forward to expose and corroborate the Chinese medicine doctor’s deeds. Three of his patients allegedly stopped taking their prescribed medicine for lowering blood pressure and insulin injections after listening to the doctor’s advice, which led to their conditions worsening, with one passing away after a stroke.
29-year-old marketing manager Ms. Yang claims her 66-year-old father had been one of the doctor’s ‘victims’. Her father, reportedly suffering from high cholesterol, high blood pressure and high blood sugar, had been using Western medicine to treat his condition for 20 years. But, he later allegedly approached the Chinese medicine doctor in hopes of avoiding a stroke.
Ms. Yang claimed that her father had signed a “natural therapy” package with the doctor and, upon his advice, stopped taking his prescribed medicine. She initially believed the two-year treatment was going well as her father later lost weight, but in July this year, her father was admitted to the hospital for dyspnea (shortness of breath) caused by pulmonary edema.
“The doctor said he had kidney failure and needed (to undergo) kidney dialysis. I worry (he) will be like this for the rest of his life,” Ms. Yang shared. The 29-year-old alleged the Chinese medicine doctor only had a diploma in a “massage” course and a degree in traditional Chinese medicine.
Another patient’s son, 34-year-old teacher Mr. Yang, claimed his father had consulted the doctor upon recommendations from his friends and relatives. But, Mr. Yang had not expected the doctor to advise his father to stop taking his medicine, nor did he expect his father to comply.
Unfortunately, his father suffered a stroke two weeks later and had to undergo an emergency operation as he had blood vessels swelling in his brain. Despite their best efforts, Mr. Yang’s father later passed away in 2020. Mr. Yang told China Press that he had attempted to report the doctor to the police, even going to a local politician for help, but it was to no avail.
“Even though I learned that the other party was practicing medicine without a license when (I was) collecting evidence, I was informed by the lawyer that there was insufficient evidence to accuse him, plus other reasons. So far, (the case) cannot be brought to court,” he reportedly stated. Mr. Yang reportedly hopes Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng will take note of the matter.
Mr. Yang added that the doctor’s assistant had confirmed 8 other patients who had suffered “accidents” under his care. One of them was the father of a 40-year-old insurance manager. The manager claimed the doctor had scalded her father when treating him with hot compresses in 2021. He then allegedly applied ginger to treat the burn.
In addition to the Chinese medicine doctor’s alleged malpractice, the victims’ families claim he has been extorting his patients. One claimed he charged his patient over RM10,000 to boil ginger tea for them, treat them with hot compresses made with heated red bean bags, give them a massage and provide them with various forms of ginger-based treatments.
The doctor had also allegedly pressured his patients into accepting his treatments by using fear-mongering. A Mrs. Wu claimed he had told her mother, who was suffering from stage four liver cancer and had been diagnosed as incurable, that she could be saved.
But, when Mrs. Wu’s husband rejected the RM4000 treatment, he supposedly told her mother that her child was being unfilial, even resorting to yelling about it in front of their house. Said Chinese medicine doctor also supposedly used a photo of his late patient having a stroke to promote his treatment without the patient’s or their family’s consent.
Prof Dr Jack Ng (黄展鹏) who is affiliated with the Federation of Chinese Physicians & Acupuncturists Association of Malaysia (FCPAAM) has also advised families of the victims to report the issue to the Ministry of Health to start an investigation into his authenticity as a doctor.
However, the Chinese medicine doctor in question has reportedly refuted the allegations, claiming they had misunderstood the situation. He denied having harmed his patients, alleged his clinic was licensed and had been inspected by the Ministry of Health. He also denied pressuring his patients, and giving them bad medical advice.
Our hearts go out to the families who have lost family members or who have relatives who are suffering. We sincerely hope light can be shed on the situation soon.
