In a startling and cautionary tale from central China, a man seeking alternative treatment for a benign tumor nearly lost his life after Unqualified Doctor Performs Acupuncture on Him.
The incident, which unfolded in the unlikeliest of settings—a cybercafe—has sparked national outrage and stirred intense discussions on social media regarding public awareness, the dangers of unregulated medical practices, and the cultural persistence of so-called “barefoot doctors.”
The Search for a Cure Leads to a Dangerous Decision
The story centers on a man surnamed Gao, a resident of Henan province, who had been diagnosed with a fibroma located under his shoulder blade. Fibromas are typically harmless tumors made up of fibrous or connective tissue, and while they can cause discomfort or aesthetic concerns, they are not life-threatening and are commonly removed through minor surgical procedures under professional medical care.
Despite the benign nature of his condition, Gao and his wife, surnamed Zhang, opted not to pursue standard treatment through licensed medical institutions. Instead, they were guided by a friend to seek the help of a man claiming to be a doctor. What followed was a series of profoundly ill-informed decisions that could have easily led to Gao’s death.
This “doctor,” as it turned out, was not certified in any capacity. He diagnosed Gao not with fibroma, but with an “air bump,” a non-medical term that he claimed he could cure with acupuncture.
The man had no clinic or office—instead, he agreed to carry out the treatment in the lounge of a cybercafe owned by the couple’s friend. On February 22, the first treatment was administered, and tragedy struck within minutes.
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As the unlicensed practitioner inserted several acupuncture needles into Gao’s back, Gao suddenly lost the ability to breathe. He became incontinent, a sign of severe physiological distress.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Zhang and others rushed him to a hospital. There, doctors diagnosed him with respiratory failure and pneumothorax—conditions indicating that his lungs had been punctured, causing air to escape into the chest cavity and compress the lungs.
Doctors acted quickly and admitted him into intensive care. They later told Zhang that Gao would have died if he had arrived at the ICU even a minute later. His life had been saved by the narrowest of margins.
Barefoot Doctors and the Dangers of Medical Ignorance
Following Gao’s hospitalization, Zhang attempted to hold the so-called doctor accountable. At first, he agreed to take responsibility, but soon disappeared and cut all communication by blocking her online. Desperate for justice, Zhang turned to Henan Television and traced the man to his home. There, his father revealed the uncomfortable truth—his son was a “barefoot doctor.”
The term “barefoot doctor” harks back to a policy initiative launched during the Mao era in China, where minimally trained individuals provided basic healthcare services in rural communities. While the original movement had some structure and official oversight, in modern China, the term is now often used to describe unlicensed individuals who claim to offer medical treatments based on experience or observation, without any formal training or accreditation.
This particular barefoot doctor had no medical license. He had reportedly learned acupuncture and massage by watching others perform them. He had no registered place of practice and operated in spaces like the cybercafe where Gao received his ill-fated treatment.
Even more shocking is the fact that the couple’s friend, who introduced them to this man, was fully aware that the doctor was unlicensed. However, since he himself had previously received treatments for minor issues like neck pain without incident, he didn’t see any danger in referring Gao.
The ignorance and trust placed in unverified medical practitioners are deeply concerning. Even more disturbing is the casual attitude displayed by everyone involved—carrying out a medical procedure in the lounge of a cybercafe, without questioning the qualifications of the person inserting needles into someone’s back, underscores a dangerous lack of awareness.
A representative from the local health commission confirmed that official documents had been submitted to both the police and the local procuratorate to pursue legal action against the unqualified practitioner. According to Chinese law, anyone who engages in medical procedures without a license and causes serious harm to another person may face between three to ten years in prison.
A Wake-Up Call for Public Health Awareness
The aftermath of the incident saw a flood of reactions on Chinese social media. Many users expressed disbelief at the couple’s decision to trust an unlicensed practitioner and undergo medical treatment in a cybercafe. “He was really lucky to have survived,” one commenter said. “They only had themselves to blame for trusting barefoot doctors without a license.”
Others were even more blunt, calling out the couple’s “ignorance and nonchalance” in placing their lives in the hands of someone with no medical training.
This tragic near-death experience is more than just an isolated incident. It highlights a broader issue within public health—especially in communities where alternative medicine and word-of-mouth treatments are still heavily relied upon.
While traditional Chinese medicine, including acupuncture, is a respected and regulated field when practiced by licensed professionals, its misuse by unqualified individuals puts countless lives at risk.
The accessibility of social media platforms has played a dual role in this saga. On one hand, it helped amplify Zhang’s voice and drew attention to the negligence and irresponsibility of the barefoot doctor. On the other, it revealed how widespread the problem is and how deeply rooted some misconceptions about health and treatment remain, even in the digital age.
Educational campaigns that promote the importance of certified medical care are sorely needed, particularly in rural and semi-urban parts of the country. The government’s move to prosecute the offender is a strong legal response, but more preventative action is needed to protect others from similar fates.
Gao’s case serves as a somber reminder that when it comes to health, there are no shortcuts. The convenience or cost-effectiveness of alternative practitioners should never come at the expense of safety, expertise, and legal oversight. Had he and his wife sought help from a licensed medical professional from the beginning, this terrifying ordeal could have been completely avoided.
In the end, Gao was lucky—his life was spared by a timely hospital intervention. But not everyone is as fortunate. His story is a cautionary tale, not just for those in China but globally, where unregulated medical practices continue to flourish under the radar. It calls for vigilance, education, and systemic changes to ensure that such acts of ignorance no longer result in tragedy.