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China's National Health Commission (NHC) on Friday released a statement of the results of its investigation involving a doctor surnamed Xiao and another individual surnamed Dong, holding multiple personnel and institutions seriously accountable. 

Xiao's violations of regulations and laws exposed shortcomings in the management of medical quality and safety, as well as the inadequacies in establishing and enforcing systems related to medical ethics and conduct at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital, according to the NHC statement.

According to media reports, in April 2025, Xiao's wife filed a real-name report alleging that Xiao engaged in affairs with multiple women during their marriage and had left the operating room for extended periods, neglecting anesthetized patients due to emotional reasons. The incident later sparked discussion on social media. During the marriage, Xiao was found to have had an improper relationship with Dong and others, according to a previous notice released by the NHC in May.

The statement also revealed the investigation results of other related issues regarding institutions involved in the case. In April 2019, while reviewing Dong's application materials, a staff member surnamed Ma from the academic affairs office of Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) failed to detect that her transcript from University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB) (which included 4 courses totaling 16 credits) was forged, according to the statement.

PUMC, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, and the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences have lax management regarding the publication of academic papers by students and staff, said the statement.

Authorities revoked Xiao's medical license and banned him from practicing for more than five years after confirming serious professional and ethical violations. Dong, was found to have falsified academic records and committed plagiarism; her diploma, degree, and medical qualifications were also annulled, according to the previous notice released by the NHC in May.

The verification of the admission qualifications of other students in the "4+4" medical doctor pilot program at PUMC found no violations. The statement also refuted online claims that two students were the granddaughters of a certain academician or that some students were admitted through artistic talent.

It also outlined the investigation into Dong's forgery and plagiarism. In January 2019, Ban, then deputy director of the international affairs office at USTB and Dong's aunt, facilitated the forgery of a transcript to help her niece enroll in a pilot program at PUMC, according to the statement.

Ban was placed on one-year probation within the Party and punished with dismissal from her administrative post, revocation of postgraduate supervisor qualifications, and removal from teaching position, according to the statement.

Other personnel involved received various levels of disciplinary actions. An individual involved surnamed Cui, the deputy director (in charge of administrative work) of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital has received a disciplinary admonition, and Zhang, the deputy dean of PUMC responsible for admissions, teaching, and other related work, received a serious intra-Party warning, said the statement. Other related personnel also got punishment including disciplinary demotion in rank, removal from office and suspension of postgraduate supervisor qualification.

The Party committees of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital, PUMC, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, and USTB were ordered to submit written self-criticisms and implement concrete corrective measures, according to the statement.

In response to issues such as the lack of rigor in pilot program "4+4," inadequate management, and poor implementation at PUMC, the NHC and the Ministry of Education have instructed the college to carry out thorough rectifications, according to the statement.

Global Times