Friday, March 20, 2020

Beijing urges local police to withdraw "reprimand" of whistleblower Wuhan doctor

A portrait of Dr. Li Wenliang is left at Li's hospital in Wuhan on February 7, following his death. Getty Images

The Chinese government on Thursday announced the result of its investigation into issues related to Dr. Li Wenliang, the ophthalmologist who was reprimanded by police in Wuhan for trying to warn others about the coronavirus — and whose death from the virus on Feb. 7 sparked nationwide outrage.
The national authorities confirmed that the 34-year-old Li, who worked at a hospital in Wuhan, re-posted internal government documents on the emerging outbreak on Dec. 30 in a social media group chat and warned others not to go outside.
Local police in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, subsequently summoned Li on Jan. 3 and issued him a formal reprimand.
The government investigators also said that Li received proper treatment once he became ill, and all medical procedures were approved by him or his family.
The authorities concluded that local police's reprimand of Li was “inappropriate” based on improper application of law and that it should be rectified. The government investigators urged local police to withdraw its reprimand and hold relevant personnel accountable.

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