Beijing Chest Hospital sued after patient dies

The family of a man who died after lung surgery in a hospital in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province has sued the surgeon in Beijing, reported the Beijing Times.

Yao Fengbai, 53, was diagnosed with lung cancer in the First People's Hospital of Mudanjiang in Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang province on May 11, 2011. The hospital suggested he undergo an operation on his left lung.

The hospital invited a surgeon working at the Beijing Chest Hospital to conduct the operation on May 14, 2011. However, after the surgeon left the hospital, Yao began having low blood pressure and chest pain and died from "heart failure" despite the emergency treatment.

The local forensic center ruled that Yao died because of a left ventricular wound caused in the operation.

What's more, the hospital didn't spot cancer cells in Yao's lung after an examination.

Yao's family sued the surgeon and the Beijing Chest Hospital in Tongzhou district people's court, and asked for more than 836,000 yuan in compensation. The court recently heard the case but hasn't ruled.

The lawyer of Yao's family said the Beijing Chest Hospital and surgeon violated regulations because the Mudanjiang hospital "is not qualified to conduct lung excision," and that the surgeon conducted the operation before further diagnosing the disease and left without observing the patient's condition after the operation.

The lawyer also said the family will consider suing the Mudanjiang hospital and its doctors who are responsible.