Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health rescues a case where a clinic held a person to 'fake illness and extort money'

Accordingly, at around 6:00 p.m. on September 19, the Department of Health Inspectorate received a call for help from a resident whose relative was receiving medical treatment at the Saigon Medical Clinic (153-155 Nguyen Van Cu, Ward 2, District 5) belonging to Saigon Medical Services Company Limited.

This person said that her relative, Ms. HO (born in 1989), came for an obstetric examination but was kept in the clinic by the staff due to payment for the service.

Immediately after receiving the information, the Health Department Inspectorate coordinated with relevant units to conduct a surprise inspection of this clinic. It was noted that on the first floor of the clinic, there was a patient with cough and 2 other patients. All 3 cases came to the clinic because they wanted to perform the technique of terminating pregnancy and had just performed this procedure.

However, at the time of the surprise inspection, there was no obstetrician present at the clinic, and the clinic could not provide medical examination and treatment records or patient invoices.

Saigon Medical Clinic has committed violations of fabricating illnesses and extorting money.

Working with the inspection team, Ms. HO said that the clinic advised her that the abortion cost was 2 million VND and that it would be painless. However, during the abortion procedure, the clinic required the patient to sign a 29 million VND package before proceeding, otherwise it would cause heavy bleeding and be very painful, and pressured her to transfer money right on her hospital bed. Because the patient could only transfer 9 million VND, she was kept at the clinic and forced to pay the full amount.

The Health Department Inspectorate has instructed to immediately transfer the patients to Tu Du Hospital for examination and monitoring of their health status to ensure their safety.

Continuing to work with the legal representative of Saigon Medical Services Company Limited, Mr. Sin Sui Sang, the Health Department Inspector also noted that this clinic had signs of keeping patients, "faking illnesses, and extorting money" as reported by the people.

The Health Department Inspectorate has drawn up a record and temporarily suspended the medical examination and treatment activities of the facility due to failure to ensure the conditions of medical examination and treatment personnel and patient safety conditions after medical examination and treatment procedures, and continues to clarify violations of the law and strictly handle them.

According to current regulations, administrative violations of Saigon Medical Clinic will be subject to a maximum fine of VND 120 million and the right to use the medical examination and treatment license will be revoked for a period of 4 months.

Regarding criminal liability, Article 315 of the Penal Code stipulates the crime of violating regulations on medical examination and treatment, which clearly states that anyone who violates regulations on medical examination and treatment, causing property damage of 100 million VND or more, can be imprisoned from 1 to 5 years.

It is known that the person in charge of technical expertise of Saigon Medical Clinic is Mr. Lieu Thanh Hoang (Certificate of Practice No. 001498/AG-CCHN dated December 21, 2012) and the person in charge of obstetrics and gynecology is Ms. Do Thi Lam Oanh (Certificate of Practice No. 053188/HCM-CCHN dated February 15, 2022).

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health calls on people to immediately call 098.940.1155 or via the "Online Health" application if they discover medical facilities showing signs of detaining patients, "faking illnesses, extorting money" or suspecting that they are operating without a license or practicing certificate, etc., or via the "Online Health" application so that the Department of Health Inspectorate can promptly grasp the information, conduct surprise inspections, and take action.

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/so-y-te-tphcm-giai-cuu-mot-truong-hop-bi-phong-kham-giu-nguoi-de-ve-benh-moi-tien-post265517.html