A woman named Wang from Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, went to the Eastern District of Suzhou City Hospital for a medical check-up, where the outpatient doctor prescribed an abdominal ultrasound for her. However, during the examination, the doctor from the ultrasound department mistakenly performed a vaginal ultrasound instead. After the incident, the doctor involved even mentioned that “vaginal ultrasounds are more expensive.” This incident sparked public outcry and became a hot topic on social media.
According to a report by Modern Express, on May 30th, Wang consulted the outpatient department of Suzhou City Hospital East District due to feeling unwell. The doctor there issued her a prescription for an abdominal ultrasound. Subsequently, she proceeded to Room 1 of the ultrasound department. After verifying her name, she followed the doctor’s instructions to undress for the examination. During the procedure, she felt a cold instrument touching her intimate area, which prompted her immediate outcry. “The probing was repeated three times. I resisted, but it was futile. Fortunately, I had prior knowledge of the vaginal ultrasound procedure and inquired with the doctor about the nature of the examination, to which the doctor confirmed it was a vaginal ultrasound.”
As Wang recalled, there were two doctors in the examination room: one intern responsible for recording and reporting the examination items, and another doctor responsible for conducting the procedure. When she asked about the examination being conducted, the intern, looking at the computer with her back turned, said, “I’m sorry, I made a mistake.” Not only was there no formal apology, but the doctor performing the examination also remarked, “Vaginal ultrasounds are more expensive.”
Wang added, “I asked the operating doctor at that time if for a normal abdominal ultrasound, I needed to undress completely. The doctor on duty replied affirmatively, while the intern remained silent and did not turn around. I asked for her name twice before she finally answered.”
In response to the incident, Wang filed a complaint with the hospital’s outpatient office. Staff escorted her back to the ultrasound department, but after waiting for over ten minutes without seeing the department head, “the doctor responsible for the examination came out to apologize and offered to rearrange the room for me to redo the examination. I requested an apology from the intern as well, and they went to call her out.”
On the evening of May 31st, Wang stated that she received a phone call from someone claiming to be the department head, who provided feedback on the resolution regarding the two individuals involved.
On June 1st, a call to the ultrasound department at Suzhou City Hospital East District was met with a response from the staff stating that the department is currently cooperating with the hospital’s relevant departments to follow the proper procedures. Due to the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival holiday, the final outcome will need to wait until after the holiday period.
Ultrasound examinations, including abdominal, cardiac, gynecological, and cranial ultrasounds, are common procedures using ultrasound waves. An abdominal ultrasound involves placing the probe on the abdomen, while a vaginal ultrasound involves inserting the probe into the vagina.
Per information on the official website of Suzhou City Hospital, it is a comprehensive tertiary A-class public hospital.
This incident quickly garnered attention and spread widely across the internet, leading it to trend on social media platforms. Many people expressed concerns about a top-tier hospital making such a mistake, leading to a patient feeling doubly harmed. The doctor’s improper actions and inappropriate response were deemed unacceptable, with calls for a sincere apology from the medical staff.
Comments from online users reflected varying opinions. One user questioned how such a mistake could happen, emphasizing the potential severity of misdiagnosing crucial organs. Another user raised concerns over the suitability of performing a vaginal ultrasound for a patient with abdominal issues.
In a stroke of luck amidst the unfortunate incident, it was noted that the ultrasound examination, though carried out incorrectly, did not involve surgical procedures that could have had more serious consequences.