Incident Overview

In a troubling incident that has raised eyebrows and ignited a public outcry, a 78-year-old woman, Liu, required hospitalization in the intensive care unit just three days following a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment. The family's desperate plea for transparency regarding the ingredients in the medicinal paste used during a $17,000 treatment package has shed light on the potential risks associated with such practices.

Health Crisis Details

According to her son, Cai, the elderly woman was found unconscious in her bed on November 10. Rushed to the hospital, doctors diagnosed her with severe gastrointestinal bleeding, necessitating emergency surgery that same day. Liu remained hospitalized for over a month and has been left unable to attend to her daily activities without assistance.

Discovery of Visits to TCM Clinic

The family's harrowing ordeal began to unravel when they discovered receipts at home indicating that Liu had visited a TCM clinic multiple times, a fact they were previously unaware of. Before her treatments, Liu had only received a foot massage at a local parlour, after which she was referred to the TCM clinic.

Potential Link to Traditional Chinese Medicine

Upon questioning, doctors in the hospital asked Liu's family if she had used any Chinese medicine, suggesting a possible link between her deteriorating condition and the treatments she received. Liu’s distressing confession to her son during her visits indicated that she experienced increased fatigue and unease after the treatments, which prompted staff at the clinic to apply a mysterious and odorless medicinal paste on her back and legs. Unfortunately, within three days of her fifth visit to the clinic, Liu fainted at home.

Medical Professionals' Warning

Medical professionals warned that if the paste included steroids, it could dangerously elevate gastric acid levels, ultimately resulting in gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers, and a range of other severe complications. Against this backdrop, Liu’s family is adamant about holding the clinic accountable, noting that she had been a vegetarian and generally healthy prior to this incident.

Family's Response and Legal Actions

Liu's daughter stated that the clinic has refused to disclose the specifics of the medicinal paste, citing confidentiality, which has only intensified the family's distress. They have since filed complaints with the Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board and the Consumers Association of Singapore, as well as lodged a police report against the clinic.

Official Communication and Refund Offer

In a subsequent communication, the Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board reminded the public that formal complaints would require a statutory declaration. Meanwhile, the TCM clinic has expressed their intention to work with Liu's family to resolve their concerns, even offering a $4,000 refund, yet reiterating their stance against releasing detailed information regarding the treatment she received.

Conclusion and Call for Regulation

The case serves as a chilling reminder for patients considering TCM remedies — the lack of transparency in herbal treatments could pose serious health risks. Liu's sad fate calls for a critical evaluation of safety protocols within TCM practices, as more individuals turn to them seeking relief and wellness. As the family pursues answers, one can't help but feel the urgency for greater regulation and consumer protection in the world of alternative medicine. Will Liu’s story inspire legislative action to ensure patient safety? The public awaits the outcome with bated breath.