A 37-year-old woman from Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, died during a medical examination at a local hospital, as reported by several mainland media outlets including Dahe Daily. Her husband claimed that surveillance footage showed the anesthesiologist playing on his phone almost the entire time, sparking discussions online.
On July 29th, Mr. Liu from Xi’an revealed that his wife passed away while undergoing a bronchoscopy at a local hospital for bronchial tuberculosis. He discovered from the surveillance footage that the anesthesiologist was engrossed in his phone, neglecting to monitor the patient’s vital signs as legally required.
Furthermore, Mr. Liu mentioned that without prior notice to the family, hospital staff arranged for a videographer to film a promotional video during the procedure. He expressed concerns that this activity may have diverted the attention of medical staff and potentially delayed life-saving interventions.
Medical records showed that during the procedure, Mr. Liu’s wife developed subcutaneous emphysema leading to mediastinal emphysema, and despite rescue efforts, she passed away.
Family members also pointed out that without consent, the balloon size was upgraded during the operation, resulting in a tracheal tear, leading to complications like mediastinal emphysema and ultimately, futile rescue efforts leading to the patient’s death.
Hospital authorities, on the other hand, stated that the doctor bore minimal responsibility for the woman’s death, and the Health Department has initiated an investigation into the doctor’s conduct.
The family expressed dissatisfaction with the hospital’s rush to attribute minimal responsibility without a comprehensive autopsy report, finding it challenging to gain trust from both the family and the public. The public expects a thorough investigation to clarify all responsibilities involved.
The incident has stirred widespread attention and discussion on social media platforms.
Dr. Jiang Peiru, Head of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at the Fudan University Affiliated Public Health Clinical Center with 1.553 million followers on Weibo, emphasized that anesthesiologists may briefly check necessary medical information during procedures but are strictly prohibited from prolonged distraction with mobile phones.
Netizens voiced their concerns, with one stating that the tragic turn of events from a routine examination has brought attention to the bottom line of medical safety. They criticized the anesthesiologist for being distracted with his phone during the procedure and the hospital’s decision to film promotional videos, which diverted medical staff’s attention. The hospital’s assertion of minimal responsibility has not alleviated public suspicions. Vigilance in anesthesia management is crucial, and non-medical filming should not be randomly placed in treatment areas. While medical accidents can occur, violation of protocols should not be taken lightly. Only with a comprehensive and detailed investigation report recognizing all responsibilities can the trust between medical practitioners and patients be maintained.
Many netizens expressed sorrow over the loss of a 37-year-old life.
User “Qing Luo Baby” shared their experience of observing an anesthesiologist playing on the phone after administering anesthesia during a cesarean section, expressing post-event anxiety.
User “Ren Jian Ke Wei Zhao Zhi” mentioned encountering a doctor playing on the phone during a consultation visit.
User “Ju Hai Shi Miao” criticized medical professionals for being distracted with their phones during routine check-ups even in high-tier hospitals.