China hospital apologises after female patient’s genitals exposed in surgery livestream watched by 50,000
A hospital in Shaanxi, China, is facing backlash after a livestreamed training session reportedly exposed a female patient’s private parts to as many as 50,000 viewers. Authorities say the footage was part of an internal teaching video mistakenly broadcast on a public platform. Disciplinary action has since been taken against those involved.
- A gynaecology department livestreamed a four-minute surgical teaching video that exposed a female patient’s genitals to tens of thousands of online viewers.
- The broadcast, intended as internal training, was mistakenly streamed on a public platform, sparking outrage and questions about patient consent.
- The department head was suspended and issued a serious warning, while another staff member received disciplinary action.
CHINA: The Affiliated Hospital of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine has come under intense scrutiny after a surgery-related livestream reportedly exposed a female patient’s private parts to the public.
The incident occurred on 2 February during a routine weekly training session conducted by the hospital’s Second Department of Gynaecology. The session was broadcast via the department’s official WeChat Video Channel.
According to mainland media reports, the livestream included a four-minute instructional video demonstrating a surgical procedure for Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI), specifically a mid-urethral sling operation.
During the broadcast, the patient was shown lying on the operating table with her lower body exposed. At its peak, the livestream reportedly attracted over 50,000 viewers.
Viewers Shocked, Questions Over Consent
Netizens who stumbled upon the livestream expressed shock, with some saying they initially assumed it was a routine medical broadcast before realising explicit imagery was being shown.
Many questioned whether the patient had given informed consent for the footage to be shown online. Others argued that even if consent had been obtained, such sensitive medical content should never have been aired on a public-facing platform.
Reports also stated that the livestream’s comment section became flooded with inappropriate and harassing remarks, further fuelling public anger.
The broadcast was eventually cut off after multiple viewers flagged and reported the stream.
Hospital Claims It Was a Teaching Session
As criticism mounted, staff manning the hospital’s medical ethics and conduct hotline initially responded that the livestream was part of a teaching session rather than a live surgery.
On 3 February, the hospital issued an official statement confirming that the gynaecology department conducts regular training sessions every Monday for medical professionals in obstetrics and gynaecology.
On the evening of 2 February at around 6pm, the department used its WeChat Video Channel to livestream a teaching session on the surgical treatment and complication management of SUI.
During the session, a PowerPoint presentation was shown and an internal teaching video of a surgical procedure was played intermittently for about four minutes. The hospital stated that the footage displayed the patient’s localised private parts but did not contain identifiable personal information.
The livestream was halted after the lecturer noticed abnormal comments appearing in the chat.
Disciplinary Action Taken
In its statement, the hospital acknowledged that internal teaching material had been mistakenly broadcast on a public platform, reflecting what it described as shortcomings in digital literacy among staff and lapses in departmental oversight.
Following a review by the hospital’s Party Committee:
- The Head of the Second Department of Gynaecology received a serious warning and was suspended pending further investigation.
- A staff member from the Medical Affairs Department responsible for auditing the session was issued a formal warning.
- The matter involving relevant hospital leadership has been reported to higher authorities for further handling.
Livestream Links Removed, Internal Review Launched
The hospital has since shut down all related livestream links and removed the department’s social media accounts.
It also announced a comprehensive audit across the institution to review teaching content and digital platforms to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
The hospital said it is working to eliminate management loopholes and strengthen oversight to ensure that private medical content is not inadvertently shared with the public in the future.
The incident has reignited broader debate in China over patient privacy, informed consent and the appropriate use of digital platforms in medical education.
