China’s National Health Commission has had to go as far as intervening in the matter of a physical examination administered in Jiangsu on which was written a derogatory statement relating to the testee’s mental faculty. The internet is now alight and a doctor in disgrace.
Scandal erupted last week when a copy of a physical examination report on which were the words, “low IQ”, went viral, prompting heath authorities to investigate and the medical facility in question to flat out deny their involvement.
That was on 12 September, after the report was issued by the Physical Examination Center of the People’s Hospital of Xuwei New District in Lianyungang.
Some 2 days later, a vice president of the Hospital responded that the examining doctor involved had been suspended and the incident was under further investigation.
The leaked report in question specifically described the testee as having a “sluggish expression and slow reactions”, while in its recommendations column was written, “Low IQ. Employer to consider it at its discretion”.
Wit the scandal growing, a reporter from The Paper then called the hospital involved, whereupon a staff member said, “[The video posted] indeed had an impact on our hospital and is untrue”.
Now they have backtracked. The latest report of 17 September has Xu Jie, a deputy director with Xuwei New District People’s Hospital, as confirming the facility’s physical-examination centre did indeed issue the report in question on 11 September and that it contained the wording relating to a low IQ.
Xu went on to say that the examining doctor who issued the report and gave the physical examination did not act in compliance with accepted standards, and that it should not have included the comment which ignited the backlash.
As of today, 19 September, the examining doctor remains suspended, while the incident continues to be under further investigation.
