A hospital in Central China's Hunan Province is facing an investigation after a surgeon was accused of pressuring a patient into paying for a pricier procedure mid operation.
The patient surnamed Zhao said she visited the hospital in Changsha on Saturday for a 1,560 yuan ($244) procedure to cure her chronic body odor.
However, Zhao said she noticed something stunk when her surgeon, Li Yong, kept pestering her to undergo a more expensive operation.
According to Zhao, the surgeon at one point simply stopped operation to remove her axillary sweat glands so he could push what was a 5,600-yuan procedure that would "help her heal better."
"He told me that I need another operation considering the condition of my skin," Zhao said. "But my glands had already been removed then."
Zhao said she gave in and paid the hospital a total of more than 8,000 yuan, a price far exceeding her budget.
"I didn't have any choice - I was in the middle of an operation and just wanted them to get it over with," Zhao said. "It was fraud. They should have told me beforehand."
Li has denied the accusation. "I had recommended the operation to her," Li said. "But the operation was only performed with her agreement."
The hospital also refuted any coercion took place and said Zhao had signed off on the procedure.
Zhao filed a case with city authorities, and the hospital has since refunded her 1,500 yuan, Changsha TV reported.
While no formal charges have been pressed, health authorities are investigating.
