A Chinese man named Gao nearly died after undergoing an illegal acupuncture session performed by an unlicensed doctor. He was offered treatment by the fake doctor who was only recommended by his wife's friend. Gao had a fibroma, or non-cancerous lump, on his back.
According to the fake doctor, Gao's lump was just an "air bump." As a result, Gao agreed to undergo treatment at a cybercafe. After several needles were inserted into his body, he had difficulty breathing. He was immediately taken to the hospital.
At the hospital, he was diagnosed with pneumothorax—a condition in which air leaks between the lung and the chest. As a result, he suffered respiratory failure. According to doctors, if his treatment had been delayed even for a minute, he could have died.
The fake doctor's father confirmed that he was not licensed and only studied by watching others. The incident is currently under investigation. Hospitals are cooperating in filing a case against the fake doctor.
The fake doctor could be jailed for three to ten years for illegal medical practice that led to serious harm to Gao's health.
