Authorities in Shanghai, China, have arrested several self-styled “doctors” accused of performing an unlicensed bloodletting procedure that they claimed could remove “evil energy” from patients. The case drew public attention after a video of the treatment circulated online and was later broadcast by a local television channel.
The video footage shows three individuals carrying out the procedure on a man lying on a bed in a small clinic. One of them inserts a long needle into the patient’s arm, allowing blood to flow out along the needle and drip onto the floor, where it forms a pool.
The practitioners told the patient that the treatment would remove about 100 milliliters of blood. They claimed the therapy could eliminate harmful or “evil” energy from the body. They claimed that blood would not flow from the needle if a person was healthy and free of such energy.
The video also shows that the individuals performing the procedure did not wear medical gloves or masks. Blood-stained gauze and cotton balls were reportedly discarded on the floor. The conditions indicated poor hygiene and lack of infection control measures.
The footage later circulated widely on Chinese social media platforms and was broadcast on Shanghai television, drawing public attention and prompting authorities to investigate.
The video was recorded by a person who later reported the incident to local disease control and health supervision authorities. According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), authorities launched an investigation and later raided the facility where the therapy was being offered.
Authorities determined that the individuals involved did not hold licenses to practice medicine. Police detained them on suspicion of providing illegal medical services.
Officials also confiscated medical equipment used in the procedure during the enforcement operation. Reports indicated that one of the individuals involved had previously committed similar violations, making them a repeat offender.
Chinese law requires healthcare practitioners and medical facilities to obtain official licenses before providing diagnosis or treatment. Offering medical services without authorization violates health regulations.
According to reports, illegal medical practice in China can lead to fines of up to 100,000 yuan, which is about US$14,000. In serious cases, offenders may face criminal detention or imprisonment.
Bloodletting is an ancient medical practice that involved removing blood from the body to treat illness. The method was widely used in many traditional medical systems before the development of modern scientific medicine.
Today, routine bloodletting is not considered a standard medical treatment. However, controlled removal of blood may still be used in specific medical conditions such as hemochromatosis, a disorder that causes excess iron accumulation in the body, and polycythemia vera, which results in abnormally high red blood cell levels. In these situations, the procedure is performed under medical supervision using sterile equipment.
Unregulated bloodletting procedures performed without sterile techniques can expose patients to health risks such as infection, excessive bleeding, and transmission of blood-borne diseases.
China regulates medical practice through licensing systems overseen by health authorities. Medical practitioners and healthcare facilities must obtain government approval before offering medical services.
Authorities periodically investigate illegal clinics and unlicensed practitioners to protect public health and ensure patient safety.
(Rh/MSM)