Quack doctor stands trial for student's death

A notorious quack doctor and ex-convict stood trial on Tuesday with three others in central China for their parts in the death of a college student.

Hu Wanlin, claiming himself to be an "omnipotent doctor", was accused of illegally practicing medicine with his three followers Lyu Wei, Tang Mengjun and He Guizhi, heard the Luoyang Intermediate People's Court in Luoyang City, Henan Province.

On Aug. 31, 2013, Hu and his followers took a group of 12 "patients" to a hotel in Xin'an County on a "health program". A 22-year-old college student surnamed Yun, a devotee of traditional Chinese medicine, died after taking a substance provided by Hu.

An autopsy showed Yun had consumed Glauber's salt, a colorless hydrated sodium sulfate used in paper and glass manufacture and a cathartic and diuretic.

Another "patient" surnamed Nong became unconscious after taking Hu's concoction, but was saved by doctors at Xin'an County People's Hospital.

Yun's parents have asked for a compensation of 1.1 million yuan (178,000 US dollars) from the four defendants, who refused to plead guilty.

Hu, 65, was sentenced 15 years in prison in 2001 for practising medicine without a license. He was released in 2011 after a term reduction.