A male patient suffered an injury after a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doctor forgot to pull out an acupuncture needle out from his buttock.
Following the incident, The Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board (TCMPB) ordered the doctor to pay a fine of S$5,000 (approx. RM15,800) and be suspended for three months after inquiry proceedings were completed.
Did not get patient’s consent
According to the complaint published on Jan 19, 2025, the patient paid a visit to Dr Zhao Ying’s office on Apr. 24, 2021 to seek acupuncture treatment for his back, shoulder and neck aches.
The complaint found that Zhao didn’t carry out an adequate assessment of the patient’s medical condition and history.
On top of that, Zhao failed to get the patient’s consent before the treatment and did not spend time explaining the benefits, risks and possible complications despite the patient signing a written consent form.
Gets stabbed by acupuncture needle
At the end of the treatment, Zhao forgot to remove an acupuncture needle from the patient’s buttock.
Thus, when the patient sat on the couch at the registration area, he “felt a sharp pain and numbness that pierced through [his] inner thighs, quads and legs”.
Upon a closer look, the man discovered that a needle was lodged into the lower half of his buttock and took it out himself.
Fined & suspended
A hearing was held on Sept 25, 2025 and TCMPB found Zhao guilty of negligence.
It added that while Zhao had no intention of hurting the patient, an injury had occurred and that the incident had undermined public confidence in the TCM profession.
Zhao was subsequently fined and suspended from Jan. 19, 2026, to Apr. 18, 2026. He was also ordered to pay the costs and expenses of or incidental to the injury.
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