'Divine' doctor kills patient with toxic soup after years in jail

An autopsy of the victim, avid acupuncture practitioner Yun Xuyang described by his family as a staunch believer in Chinese medicine, showed he had consumed liquid containing highly-toxic sodium sulphate (the sodium salt of sulfuric acid) before his death. Hu, 64, was subsequently charged with “practicing medicine illegally,” according to police in Luoyang.

The tragedy sheds light on the gullible nature of the public in China when it comes to phony medical practices carried out by self-proclaimed doctors with “supernatural healing powers”.

In the 1990s Hu, who only completed education to primary school level, was portrayed as such a ‘divine’ doctor and thousands sought his medical help. Hu also claimed to have found cures for AIDS and cancer. He continued to treat his patients with “miracle water” containing high doses of sodium sulphate in the years leading up to his arrest.

More than 140 people are believed to have died as a result of his “treatment”.

Hu was convicted and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in 2000.