Doctor Received 570,000 Won Bribe Before Surgery... Chinese Netizens Say "This Is Mild"

An Incident at a Hospital in Sichuan, China
Demanded 3,000 Yuan from Patient's Guardian
Explained as "Expert Fee" After Video Released

A video showing a doctor demanding a bribe from a patient's family on the day of surgery at a hospital in China has sparked controversy. According to Chinese media such as Jimu News and Bianliu News on the 10th (local time), Mr. Xu from Sichuan Province revealed a video in which a cardiology department doctor at a traditional Chinese medicine hospital in Guangyuan demanded 3,000 yuan (about 570,000 KRW) in cash before his mother underwent surgery.

Mr. Xu's mother was urgently transported to the emergency room of Guangyuan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital on the morning of the 3rd of last month due to vomiting and abdominal pain. She was later diagnosed with severe dehydration caused by an infection and was notified of discharge after nine days of hospitalization. However, on the day of discharge, abnormal symptoms appeared, preventing her from leaving as planned. Mr. Xu shared, "While preparing for discharge, after taking medicine given by a nurse, my mother's heartbeat suddenly sped up," adding, "The doctor said there was a heart problem and surgery was necessary."

He said, "Before the surgery, my father and I were called into the consultation room and the doctor told us to prepare 3,000 yuan in cash. When I said I could transfer the money via phone, they said only cash was acceptable," and added, "My father immediately gave Dr. An 3,000 yuan in cash on the spot, and the entire process of Dr. An receiving and counting the cash was clearly captured on video."

After additional surgery, Mr. Xu's mother was able to be discharged after three days. Among the hospital bill of 80,596 yuan (about 15.4 million KRW) that Mr. Xu paid, the 3,000 yuan paid separately by his father was not included. After Mr. Xu released the video, the doctor reportedly responded with abusive language, saying "Are you crazy?" and claimed it was an "expert fee." As the controversy grew, Mr. Xu was reportedly asked by hospital staff to delete the video in exchange for a refund of the 3,000 yuan.

However, Chinese netizens reacted by saying this was a "common occurrence." Comments on the video Mr. Xu posted on social media included, "Many doctors wait for guardians to give bribes before surgery," "There is no hospital these days where you can leave without paying a bribe," and "Only 3,000 yuan? Here in Shanghai, it starts at a minimum of 10,000 yuan (about 1.91 million KRW)."

Corruption in the Chinese medical sector is nothing new. Last year, the Communist Party Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission, China’s top anti-corruption bodies, conducted a high-intensity crackdown on the medical sector, which has long been criticized as the most corrupt area in China. It is reported that more than 180 public hospital directors and secretaries have been investigated and removed from office due to corruption allegations.