A 72-year-old traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner in Beijing’s Chaoyang District, surnamed Xu, has been accused by a patient, Mrs. Du, of molesting her during a pulse diagnosis and acupuncture session. In a bizarre defense, Xu claimed his actions were part of an “exorcism” because she was “possessed by a ghost,” leaving many stunned.
According to Red Star News, Mrs. Du sought treatment from Xu after feeling unwell. During the acupuncture and pulse-taking process, Xu allegedly told her she had “a female ghost attached” to her and proposed a “two-night exorcism using nine needles” as a cure.
Feeling uneasy, Mrs. Du declined the follow-up “treatment.” Xu, seeing his ploy fail, allegedly proceeded to molest her.
After returning home, Mrs. Du suffered from nightmares, anxiety, and a fear of leaving the house, eventually becoming unable to live independently. Her family, upon learning the truth, reported the matter to the police and filed a lawsuit against Xu.
Xu admitted to inappropriate contact but insisted his actions were legitimate medical treatment, denying the sexual harassment claims. Police issued a 7-day detention order, but it was not enforced due to his age.
The court found that Xu’s actions went beyond the accepted scope of TCM practices and constituted sexual harassment by touching the victim’s private parts. Xu was ordered to issue a written apology and pay Mrs. Du 10,332.16 yuan (≈RM6,819) in medical expenses, 7,000 yuan (≈RM4,620) in legal fees, and 30,000 yuan (≈RM19,800) in compensation for emotional distress.
