A 36-year-old man from Xinxiang, Henan province, China, has tragically died following gastric bypass surgery, reportedly in an effort to impress his girlfriend’s parents. Known by the pseudonym Li Jiang, he weighed more than 134kg and had struggled with weight management and eating habits for years.
Li’s older brother explained that the surgery was part of his effort to present a healthier image as the couple prepared to meet each other’s families. “Things were going well, so he wanted to slim down before meeting the parents. He did it because he was preparing for marriage,” the brother said.
Li was admitted to Ninth People’s Hospital in Zhengzhou on September 30 for the procedure. The surgery itself was completed successfully on October 2, and Li was moved to a general ward after initial post-operative care in the ICU.
However, on October 4, Li’s condition suddenly worsened. At around 6:40 a.m., he was found to have stopped breathing and was rushed back to the ICU for emergency treatment. He died the following day from respiratory failure.
Medical records indicated that Li had metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and a fatty liver, and had experienced progressive weight gain accompanied by snoring over the past year. His family questioned whether the hospital had thoroughly assessed his physical condition before surgery and whether post-operative care and emergency response were timely.
The hospital stated that Li had met clinical indications for the surgery and that the medical team responded immediately when his condition deteriorated. An autopsy has been entrusted to the local Health Commission to confirm the cause of death. The hospital added it would take full responsibility according to the autopsy results and relevant laws.
