Exposing the "fake illness, extort money" trick of a clinic in Ho Chi Minh City

On October 31, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health announced that it had just discovered the General Clinic of the August General Clinic Company Limited (No. 74 Cach Mang Thang Tam, Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3) for "faking illnesses and extorting money" from customers.

Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health warns about multidisciplinary clinics that repeat the practice of "faking illnesses to extort money". Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health

Specifically, on October 29, the patient went to the clinic to have an abortion and was consulted for 10 million VND.

The doctor examined and said the fetus was 18 weeks old, and gave her medicine to "abort" (drug name unknown).

After that, the patient was given 2 pills to take and scheduled for a follow-up visit on October 30.

On October 30, when arriving at the clinic, the patient was examined by a female doctor, prescribed an injection and had the fetus removed.

During the examination, the doctor said this was a difficult case because the fetus was too big, so they had to do a painless package for 65 million VND.

Because they did not have enough money to pay, the patient's family called the Department of Health for help.

Upon receiving the information, the Department of Health Inspectorate coordinated with relevant units to conduct a surprise inspection of the General Clinic of August General Clinic Company Limited, with Mr. NHP as general director.

At the time of inspection, the team recorded the patient's treatment team including doctor NTV and nurse LTTN.

Through working and explaining to the inspection team, Dr. NTV admitted that she had examined and treated the patient and prescribed pregnancy-preserving medicine, vitamin and iron supplements, but she was unclear about the issue of counseling and prescribing medication to terminate the pregnancy.

Saigon Medical Services Company Limited (153-155 Nguyen Van Cu, Ward 2, District 5). Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health

When asked, nurse LTTN confirmed that she had consulted a painless abortion service package for the patient at a price of 65 million VND, while the initial consultation price was 10 million VND.

At the same time, arbitrarily give the abortion drug "Misoprostol 200mcg" 2 tablets, suck without doctor's prescription.

According to the Department of Health, the General Clinic of August General Clinic Company Limited was granted a license to operate medical examination and treatment by the Department of Health on August 25, 2022, with Dr. LNB responsible for technical expertise.

The clinic has approved the list of techniques for the Doctor YHD - Head of Obstetrics Department, including the technique "Medical abortion for pregnancy up to 7 weeks".

However, previously, the YHD doctor was administratively sanctioned by the Health Department Inspectorate, applying the additional penalty of "Revocation of the right to use the Certificate of practice of medical examination and treatment for a period of 2 months" from September 25, 2024.

It is worth mentioning that, according to the Health Department Inspectorate, the company and individuals related to this clinic have been administratively punished many times.

To ensure patient safety, the Department of Health Inspectorate requires the facility to temporarily suspend all medical examination and treatment activities immediately upon inspection until the incident is resolved;

Transfer the case file to the police investigation agency to consider prosecuting violations of the law that directly affect the health and interests of the people.

Previously, the General Clinic of Saigon Medical Services Company Limited (153-155 Nguyen Van Cu, Ward 2, District 5) was also fined more than 100 million VND by the Department of Health Inspectorate, and was subject to an additional penalty of the maximum penalty of "Suspension of the clinic's license to operate medical examination and treatment for a period of 4 months" for the act of "faking illnesses to extort money".

The Department Inspectorate is transferring the case to the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department to investigate and consider prosecuting violations of the law that directly affect the health and rights of the people.

At the same time, revoke the right to use the medical practice certificate for the BTTH doctor of this clinic for a period of 3 months.

In addition, punish individuals involved in violations during medical examination and treatment activities and consider revoking the right to use practice certificates (practice licenses) for a period of time for the above individuals.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/lat-tay-thu-doan-ve-benh-moi-tien-cua-phong-kham-tai-tphcm-192241031150556404.htm