key: cord-0740235-vp8qz5g0
authors: Si, Yuhao
title: Doctors in China Need More Power of Discourse
date: 2020-07-03
journal: J Public Health (Oxf)
DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdaa090
sha: 9611710ed05f176117818164a871295b2dca1aa1
doc_id: 740235
cord_uid: vp8qz5g0

COVID-19 that developed in late 2019 and 2020 is a severe threat to human health. The tragedy of Dr Li Wenliang, the whistleblower, revealed a current status of doctors’ insufficient power of disclosure. Therefore, prompt and effective actions warrant to be taken by the government and public to improve Chinese doctors’ power of disclosure. A medical system based on the improved doctors’ power of disclosure is beneficial to disease prevention in an extended period.

On 7 February 2020, the whistleblower, Dr Li Wenliang died of the new coronavirus in Wuhan, which caused uproar and fury among all Chinese citizens. 1 Dr Li raised the alarm of the deadly virus via the Chinese social media WeChat in December 2019 (the early weeks of the outbreak). Soon after posting the warning messages, however, Dr Li and the other seven whistleblower doctors were detained and accused of rumormongering by the Wuhan police and compelled to sign police exhortations, swearing not to spread 'rumors' again. Additionally, Dr Li had respiratory symptoms as a result of treating a coronavirus patient, and he was subsequently hospitalized on January 12. Ultimately, the hero Dr Li died a week after testing positive for the coronavirus at Wuhan hospital with the reluctance from Chinese people and without an apology from the Wuhan police. Notably, Dr Li's tragedy reflected the absence of doctors' power of discourse in China.

The latest information and warnings from first-line doctors can assist people in realizing and preventing risks early to save more lives. The following actions are duty-bound for the public and the government. Firstly, grass-roots health departments must pay great attention to new medical issues as well as the relevant solutions reported by first line doctors and release exact messages and feasible guidance to the public in time. Secondly, when hindered by their leadership, qualified doctors should be allowed to report directly to the National Health Commission of China through a 'green channel' to immediately adopt emergency measures. Additionally, firstline doctors should not be blamed or sued if they deliver disease-related notifications through social media, even if those notifications are later proven to be flawed or incorrect (not on purpose). Finally, the public also needs to treat doctors with more respect and trust, especially in times of crisis.

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I, Yuhao Si, give my consent for this manucript to be published in the Journal of Public Health.

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Wuhan hospital announces death of whistleblower doctor Li Wenliang 2020

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The author declares no conflict of interest.

The study is supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China ( 

YS independently completed the current study.