The Sanming city government in Fujian has suspended two public-hospital doctors over the 'accidental' deaths of four patients in one month, Xinhua reported yesterday.
Relatives of victims of accidental hospital deaths receive little - if any - compensation on the mainland.
The suspended doctors are anaesthetists Huang Shuo and Qiu Shunnian of Sanming No2 Hospital. The hospital's anaesthetic section chief, Wu Shansu, has stepped down from his administrative post, but continues to practise.
Three of the patients died on the operating table last month. The fourth died early this month while recovering from surgery.
An investigation by the Fujian Health Department found that all four deaths were linked to anaesthesia. But the investigators found no evidence of clinical malpractice.
The investigative team, comprising more than 10 anaesthesia experts in Fujian, concluded from records that the selection, administration and dosage of the drugs used were in line with standard practice, and the emergency procedures carried out when the patients' condition deteriorated were also strictly by the book, Xinhua said.