Shenyang Evening News, July 13, 2010

Today's Shenyang Evening News splashes images from a hospital bribery scandal on its front page.

At the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, the family of a woman suffering from an anorectal abscess secretly recorded a department director who solicited a bribe by alluding to the patient's delicate condition. Or, in the front-page pull-quotes:

After the anorectal abscess operation, a 500 RMB bribe was solicited
"You really need to understand, your wife could have life-threatening danger at any moment. You need to be clear on that. Get it?"

But disappointing results from the surgery led the family to demand the bribe's return
"What are you trying to do? You want the money returned?"
"This is easy to fix...."
"You're not getting back the pig's feet...."

According to the report inside the paper, in addition to the 500 RMB bribe, the family had also prepared a special dish of pig's feet for Director Li.

In Admissions, at the director's office, Li first opened a storage cabinet. With his back to Mr. Zhao, he counted off some RMB, and then took out a folded envelope, put the money inside, and handed it to Mr. Zhao.

The reporter visited the hospital to confirm that the video was indeed shot there, and that the doctor shown returning a bribe was indeed Director Li. However, there is no mention of whether the Director Li or the hospital was invited to comment.

Instead, the experiences of several other patients are reported. From the front page:

Li (director of Colon and Rectal Surgery): Do you want surgery today, or do you want to wait a few days?
E (whose mother has not had surgery since checking into the hospital): As soon as possible, of course.
Li: Do you want another doctor, or shall I perform the surgery myself?
E: Of course it would be ideal if the director performed the surgery!
(Reportedly, at this time, director Li began opening and closing a drawer until Mr. E placed 500 RMB inside, at which point he stopped pulling at the drawer.)
Li: Surgery can be done today.