A Chinese doctor who was exposed for secretly taking placentas away after new mothers gave birth has shocked mainland social media.
The unidentified obstetrician was filmed taking a placenta from an operating theatre in a biohazard plastic bag, heading to his office and hiding it in a black bin bag.
The person who filmed the video at the Renhuai Jiudu maternity hospital in southwestern China’s Guizhou province, questioned the doctor’s behaviour.
“
He secretly took away the placenta that the mother left for the hospital to dispose of. Is there no one to discipline him?
”
the person said.
The hospital told the Chinese media outlet Lizhi News that it had fired the doctor. They did not say if the dcotor had stolen placentas previously.
The placenta is an organ that develops during pregnancy to provide nutrients to the fetus via the umbilical cord. It is expelled after a baby is born.
The dried human placenta, known in Chinese as ziheche, or
“
purple river cart
”
in English, was once considered a highly nutritious ingredient in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This began 2,000 years ago.
It was said to be effective in treating fatigue, lack of vital energy, and infertility, and was even said to have the power of making those who consume it immortal according to legend.
In modern times, some also believe that new mothers could recover better by eating their own placentas.
China banned the trade in human placenta in 2005. Ziheche was also removed from the country’s official pharmacopoeia in 2015.
The Ministry of Health said that only a new mother can ask for her placenta from hospital staff. If they do not want it, the hospital must burn or bury it as medical waste.
However, on mainland social media, people said they did not know how hospitals dealt with their placentas after they gave them up.
In 2021, it was reported that human placenta could sell for 2,400 yuan (US$340) per kilo on the black market.
While China has banned the trade in human placenta, it has not set up punishment regime for transgressors, leaving a legal loophole for those who secretly buy and sell it.
In 2017, a group of people were reported to have bought human placentas from hospitals in Beijing, triggering an official investigation. The local health commission said it had begun an investigation into the matter.
“
Judging from the popularity of ziheche in the market, it is pretty evident that not all the hospitals have burned or buried them according to the regulations,
”
one online observer said.
“
Ordinary meat, eggs and milk is more nutritious than this. I will never eat human placenta, because I am not a cannibal,
”
said another.
Source: SCMP
