University hospital death 'not only one'

The controversial death of a Beijing professor who was allegedly treated by unlicensed medical postgraduates at prestigious Peking University First Hospital is not an isolated case, according to lawyers and relatives of victims.

Previous court rulings showed that there were at least two other cases in which patients have died after being treated by unlicensed medical students and nursing students without supervision, they said.

Beijing-based lawyer Sun Wanjun said he had handled three such cases and courts had ruled in favour of two of them. The third case was still being heard.

'I have handled three cases of illegal medical practices by unlicensed medical students,' Sun said in a telephone interview yesterday. 'And the three cases took place at the same hospital.'

A report by CCTV on Wednesday about the death of a Peking University professor Xiong Zhuowei provoked a nationwide outcry. The hospital insisted that accusations of unlicensed doctors practising without supervision were unfounded. CCTV stood by its report.

A Beijing court yesterday heard an appeal by Xiong's husband, Wang Jianguo, also a Peking University professor, for more compensation for her death. A verdict is pending.

Wang yesterday said his wife's case was not unique. He had met relatives of other victims treated by unlicensed interns before their deaths at Peking University First Hospital.