Chinese woman dies after six cosmetic surgeries in one day, family receives compensation

A Chinese woman died following six cosmetic surgeries within 24 hours, triggered her family to file a lawsuit against the clinic, demanding 1.2 million yuan (US$168,000) in compensation.

On December 9, 2020, Liu, a woman from rural Guigang, Guangxi province, visited a Nanning clinic where she borrowed over 40,000 yuan (US$5,600) for six cosmetic procedures. She underwent double eyelid surgery and a nose job that afternoon, lasting five hours.

The following morning, she had liposuction on her thighs, with the extracted fat injected into her face and breasts, also taking five hours, South China Morning Post reported.

On December 11, Liu collapsed near the lift whilst leaving the clinic after discharge. Despite the clinic staff's emergency response, she was taken to The Second Nanning People's Hospital, where she was pronounced dead that afternoon.

The post-mortem examination revealed death from "acute respiratory failure due to pulmonary embolism after liposuction".

Liu left behind an eight-year-old daughter and a four-year-old son.

Her family initiated legal proceedings at Jiangnan District People's Court of Nanning City, seeking 1.18 million yuan (US$168,000) in damages. Her husband stated: "The clinic offered me 200,000 yuan as compensation. I said that at least one million yuan should be given for a person's death. Even if we split the responsibility, it should still be at least 500,000 yuan. I refused their private settlement, and I said we should just go to court."

Investigations confirmed the clinic's legal certification and the doctors' proper licensing. The fat removal procedure adhered to medical guidelines.

During the court proceedings, whilst the clinic emphasised Liu's responsibility to understand surgical risks, they failed to provide their treatment protocols despite court requests. In May 2021, the court initially held the clinic fully liable, ordering compensation exceeding one million yuan (US$140,000).

Following the clinic's appeal in August, the compensation was reduced to 590,000 yuan, acknowledging shared responsibility.

Li Shan, a Jiangnan District People's Court judge, explained that the clinic failed to properly assess blood clot risks, with their practices contributing to Liu's death.

The assessment indicated Liu's physical condition also played a role, leading to the shared liability ruling.

The incident, reported by CCTV, generated over 50 million social media views and significant public criticism.
Public comments questioned the clinic's judgment in performing multiple surgeries and criticised their handling of compensation.

According to 2020 iResearch Consulting data, only 24 per cent of China's cosmetic surgery practitioners hold legal licences, with over 100,000 operating illegally.

Illegal procedures cause approximately 100,000 cases of disability or death yearly.