In a recent development, it was reported that Yang Li, a Jiangsu petitioner suffering from end-stage renal disease, was detained by the police after seeking rights protection from Xu Yawei, Secretary of the Jintan District Committee, to ensure her freedom to seek medical treatment and dialysis. Accompanied by her father, they went to the district government but were promptly apprehended by the police and held in custody. Despite being released on June 25th, their mobile phones remain confiscated.
Yang Li and her father, Yang Guoliang, arrived at the Jintan District government on June 22nd to protest against the Jintan District People’s Hospital’s refusal to provide dialysis treatment to Yang Li. They brought with them the ashes and image of Yang Li’s late mother, Xu Dongqing, who died due to medical persecution. However, their attempt to seek justice was quickly thwarted as they were detained by the police within minutes of their arrival, with their phones confiscated.
Upon their release three days later, their phones were still being withheld. The phone is an essential tool for medical appointments, and without it, Yang Li is unable to visit the hospital for treatment.
During her hospitalization at the Jintan District People’s Hospital, Yang Li faced discrimination and retaliation from the hospital staff for protesting against the monitoring devices installed near her hospital bed. As a result, the hospital refused to provide her with necessary treatment and forced her discharge.
Yang Caiying, Yang Li’s sister residing in Japan, expressed to a reporter that during Yang Li’s hospitalization, she was treated differently by the hospital staff. All medications required approval from the authorities, and there were undercover personnel and security guards monitoring her constantly. The hospital compelled her to undergo dialysis in a sealed room against her wishes to be with other patients, and she was threatened by the Head of Nephrology, Kong Yuanwei, for non-compliance.
Describing the ordeal further, Yang Caiying mentioned that when Yang Li protested against the invasion of her privacy at the hospital and requested the removal of surveillance cameras, Kong Yuanwei called the police to suppress her. Despite seeking assistance for chest discomfort during dialysis, the medical staff ignored her calls. Kong Yuanwei later informed Yang Li that she would be discharged forcibly. Necessary medication for her critical condition was restricted by the authorities, resulting in ineffective treatment. When Yang Li explained her worsening condition and inability to leave the hospital, Kong Yuanwei refused to help and restricted her movements by stationing security guards around her.
Following her forced discharge, on June 22nd, Yang Li and her father arrived at the Jintan District government seeking rights protection from Secretary Xu Yawei. They were detained by the police for three days.
Yang Caiying added that when Yang Li requested a transfer to another hospital, the police said they needed to file an application. However, during a previous incident in February when Yang Li and her parents sought medical treatment at Peking University First Hospital, they faced similar obstacles despite their application being allegedly approved. Unfortunately, her mother passed away two months later due to the continuous hindrance to medical care.
With her phone still confiscated by the police, Yang Li’s plea to Secretary Xu Yawei for transfer rights protection went unanswered. A stage 4 kidney disease patient requiring dialysis is now not only deprived of medical care but also lacks access to prescribed medication after her forced discharge from the Jintan District People’s Hospital, posing a significant risk to her medical treatment and personal safety.
Yang Li and her mother, Xu Dongqing, were victims of land expropriation by the local government, with the Jintan Public Security Bureau and Procuratorate declining to investigate their case. Due to prolonged obstruction by the authorities during their petitions and medical care journey, Xu Dongqing, who suffered from heart disease, passed away in May this year.