Beijing court strengthens approach to rising medical disputes

In response to a significant rise in medical disputes, particularly in aesthetics, a Beijing court is enhancing its specialized approach. The Beijing Chaoyang District People's Court reported on Tuesday that it resolved 1,377 medical cases between 2023 and 2025. Of these, 369 cases, or 26.8 percent, were related to medical aesthetics — a substantial increase from an average of about 20 cases annually between 2015 and 2020.

"These cases highlight significant irregularities among medical aesthetic institutions, causing considerable distress to patients seeking cosmetic treatments," stated Chen Jie, chief judge of the court's first civil division, at a news conference.

Over the past three years, the court has also encountered new types of medical disputes, including those involving novel drugs, medical devices, assisted human reproduction, and internet-based medical services.

"Although these cases are relatively few, they represent emerging trends in medical disputes, reflecting novel legal challenges arising from social changes, technological advances, and evolving medical service models," Chen added.

Disputes involving assisted human reproduction have attracted significant public attention. "These cases encompass various aspects, including medical service contracts, marriage and family relations, personality rights, and bioethics, intertwining diverse values and interests," said Song Xiaopei, deputy chief judge of the division.

She explained that in vitro embryos are distinct from human organs, blood, sperm, and eggs because they have the potential to develop into life and serve as carriers of genetic information, involving personality interests rather than being mere "objects".

"In handling such cases, we must adhere to existing laws, administrative regulations, and relevant provisions while fully considering human health, ethical morality, and public interests," Song noted, emphasizing the challenges judges face in adjudicating these disputes.

Wang Guocai, vice-president of the court, stated that they have intensified efforts to enhance the professionalism of medical adjudication and improve case-handling efficiency to protect people's rights and provide high-quality legal services. To ensure the quality of case handling, the court established a medical dispute expert database in July 2025. So far, 532 specialists from 22 institutions, including colleges, hospitals, and medical appraisal agencies, have been appointed, according to Wang. These experts cover 259 specialized sub-disciplines, such as clinical medicine, forensic medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and medical administration, he added.