A 57-year-old obstetrician-gynecologist died after a fall from a hospital in Zhoukou, Henan last Friday (Aug 1), after news reports indicated she recently faced severe cyberbullying following a medical dispute.
The incident started when a 22-year-old pregnant woman suffered an amniotic fluid embolism. The obstetrician-gynecologist, surnamed Shao, performed a life-saving hysterectomy with the family’s consent, ensuring the survival of both mother and child, though the woman could no longer bear children.
Afterward, the patient’s family accused Shao of misdiagnosis, protested at the hospital, and sued her.
Though the court ruled in the doctor’s favor, the family continued harassing her online.
Combined with two prior unresolved medical disputes, led to coordinated attacks by the families involved, amplifying the cyberbullying.
Shao reported the incident to the police twice on July 30 and July 31, but no immediate action was taken. On August 1, Shao posted a farewell video, left a suicide note, and committed suicide.
Shao’s husband, surnamed Zhang, claimed that the harassment contributed to her death.
Authorities later launched an investigation, while former patients and colleagues defended Shao’s professionalism and compassion.
Her death has sparked outrage over online harassment and the handling of such cases.
The cyber violence regulation, effective August 1 last year, defines online violence information as unlawful or harmful content—such as insults, defamation, hate incitement, intimidation, privacy invasion, or psychologically damaging accusations, mockery, belittlement, or discrimination—collectively disseminated via text, images, audio, or video against individuals.
Internet platforms with comment sections must implement pre-review before publication.
If providers edit, publish, or repost untrue or unfair cyber violence content, they must promptly correct and mitigate the impact.
