Beijing Bites

TCM doctor sells lethal medicine

A traditional Chinese medicine doctor surnamed Wang with more than 20 years of experience has been charged with the accidental murder of two patients, the Beijing Times reported yesterday.

Wang bought plasters and other traditional Chinese forms of medicine from an unlicensed vendor surnamed Zhao in April 2009. He sold them on to two patients surnamed Liu and Li in May, but they died shortly afterwards. Tests confirmed that the plasters contained lethal doses of arsenic.