Unlicensed doc caught years after patient’s uterus bleeds

An unlicensed doctor has been sentenced to two years and 10 months behind bars with a three-year reprieve and fined 5,000 yuan ($795) for causing severe uterus hemorrhaging to a patient, after improperly removing her intrauterine device, Shanghai's Minhang District People's Court said Sunday.

The doctor, identified only by her surname, Zhang, had opened a clinic in Minhang without a license to practice medicine before the patient, surnamed Deng, 32, came to her for help in 2007.

Deng went to see Zhang, hoping she could remove her intrauterine device as she wanted to think about having a second child, the court heard. But, something went wrong during the procedure and Deng started bleeding profusely - and had to be taken to hospital.

Zhang disappeared for years after the incident, but was finally caught by police last year.

Zhang offered Deng an apology during her trial and a compensation of 63,000 yuan.

The court said that while Zhang should be punished for unauthorized medical practice, it ruled that she deserved a more lenient sentence since she had provided compensation for her error and was forgiven by Deng.