Clipping Board » Medical Harm ─ Unnecessary or inappropriate medical procedures can also cause harm.
【Chiang Yung-yu / Taipei Report】
Lü Chou, a woman working in the clothing industry, visited the renowned beauty and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner Dr. Wu Ming-zhu in August last year to alleviate menstrual pain. Dr. Wu suggested that she could also treat Lü's obesity and facial acne. After taking and applying the herbal powder and anti-acne cream provided by Dr. Wu, Lü's face became severely swollen, ulcerated, and covered in pustules, nearly disfiguring her. Dr. Wu later denied any wrongdoing in her treatment, prompting Lü to file a lawsuit against her for alleged professional negligence causing bodily harm.
**Medical Dispute**
Regarding the transformation from menstrual regulation to disfigurement, the 42-year-old unmarried Lü emotionally exclaimed, "How can I ever get married now?" Lü believes that the primary cause of her facial ulcers was the anti-acne cream. Dr. Chu Chia-yu, a dermatologist at National Taiwan University Hospital who later treated Lü, stated that Lü has a rare constitution known as "rosacea," which is difficult to prevent. Although there have been cases in medical literature of severe outbreaks due to improper medication, it was the first time he had heard of such a reaction caused by TCM.
**Suspected Overmedication Leading to the Condition**
On the evening of August 23 last year, Lü visited Dr. Wu Ming-zhu's TCM clinic on Roosevelt Road in Taipei for her initial consultation. After taking the herbal powder and applying the "Osifo" anti-acne cream provided by Dr. Wu, Lü's cheeks immediately became red and swollen. Initially, Lü thought this was a normal reaction, but two days later, her face became unbearably itchy, painful, ulcerated, and covered in pustules, with one side of her face significantly more swollen than the other. Terrified by her appearance, Lü rushed back to the clinic on August 27.
Although Dr. Wu replaced the medication with other drugs, Lü's condition did not improve. The next morning, Lü went to the emergency room at National Taiwan University Hospital, where she was diagnosed with contact dermatitis. From that day on, Lü took six days of unpaid sick leave, nearly losing her job. Nearly disfigured, Lü lost the courage to face others and even had to wear a mask when going downstairs to shop at convenience stores.
During her leave, Lü sought treatment at two other clinics, and her condition gradually improved. One of the doctors privately suggested that the medication itself might not have been the issue, but rather that Dr. Wu might have prescribed too many treatments at once—addressing gynecological issues, weight loss, and acne—causing Lü's constitution to deteriorate rapidly and trigger the condition.
**Swelling and Ulcers Persisting for Eight Months**
Afterward, Lü discussed follow-up treatment and compensation with Dr. Wu, who agreed to cover Lü's subsequent medical expenses but refused to admit any fault in her treatment. In January this year, the two parties failed to reach an agreement on the compensation amount at the Wenshan District Mediation Committee in Taipei, leading Lü to file a lawsuit against Dr. Wu for alleged professional negligence causing bodily harm. The case is currently under investigation by prosecutors. To this day, the swelling and ulcers on Lü's face have not completely healed.
Dr. Wu Ming-zhu told an Apple Daily reporter the day before yesterday that her herbal powders are approved by the Department of Health and their ingredients are absolutely safe. She suggested that Lü's reaction was due to her unique constitution, as other patients who used the anti-acne cream had no issues. Dr. Wu also stated that she recommended combined treatment for Lü because female hormones are closely related to menstrual pain, weight, and acne.
Lü Chou's face became severely swollen and covered in pustules after taking TCM and applying anti-acne cream, a stark contrast to her original appearance (right). Photo by Wu Zhen-hui.
Source: http:/ / 1- apple. com. tw/ index. ……30461023& NewsType=1& SubSec=6
Beauty TCM Practitioner Sued over Acne Treatment That Nearly Caused Disfigurement
Lü Chou, a woman working in the clothing industry, visited the renowned beauty and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner Dr. Wu Ming-zhu in August last year to alleviate menstrual pain. Dr. Wu suggested that she could also treat Lü's obesity and facial acne. After taking and applying the herbal powder and anti-acne cream provided by Dr. Wu, Lü's face became severely swollen, ulcerated, and covered in pustules, nearly disfiguring her. Dr. Wu later denied any wrongdoing in her treatment, prompting Lü to file a lawsuit against her for alleged professional negligence causing bodily harm.
**Medical Dispute**
Regarding the transformation from menstrual regulation to disfigurement, the 42-year-old unmarried Lü emotionally exclaimed, "How can I ever get married now?" Lü believes that the primary cause of her facial ulcers was the anti-acne cream. Dr. Chu Chia-yu, a dermatologist at National Taiwan University Hospital who later treated Lü, stated that Lü has a rare constitution known as "rosacea," which is difficult to prevent. Although there have been cases in medical literature of severe outbreaks due to improper medication, it was the first time he had heard of such a reaction caused by TCM.
**Suspected Overmedication Leading to the Condition**
On the evening of August 23 last year, Lü visited Dr. Wu Ming-zhu's TCM clinic on Roosevelt Road in Taipei for her initial consultation. After taking the herbal powder and applying the "Osifo" anti-acne cream provided by Dr. Wu, Lü's cheeks immediately became red and swollen. Initially, Lü thought this was a normal reaction, but two days later, her face became unbearably itchy, painful, ulcerated, and covered in pustules, with one side of her face significantly more swollen than the other. Terrified by her appearance, Lü rushed back to the clinic on August 27.
Although Dr. Wu replaced the medication with other drugs, Lü's condition did not improve. The next morning, Lü went to the emergency room at National Taiwan University Hospital, where she was diagnosed with contact dermatitis. From that day on, Lü took six days of unpaid sick leave, nearly losing her job. Nearly disfigured, Lü lost the courage to face others and even had to wear a mask when going downstairs to shop at convenience stores.
During her leave, Lü sought treatment at two other clinics, and her condition gradually improved. One of the doctors privately suggested that the medication itself might not have been the issue, but rather that Dr. Wu might have prescribed too many treatments at once—addressing gynecological issues, weight loss, and acne—causing Lü's constitution to deteriorate rapidly and trigger the condition.
**Swelling and Ulcers Persisting for Eight Months**
Afterward, Lü discussed follow-up treatment and compensation with Dr. Wu, who agreed to cover Lü's subsequent medical expenses but refused to admit any fault in her treatment. In January this year, the two parties failed to reach an agreement on the compensation amount at the Wenshan District Mediation Committee in Taipei, leading Lü to file a lawsuit against Dr. Wu for alleged professional negligence causing bodily harm. The case is currently under investigation by prosecutors. To this day, the swelling and ulcers on Lü's face have not completely healed.
Dr. Wu Ming-zhu told an Apple Daily reporter the day before yesterday that her herbal powders are approved by the Department of Health and their ingredients are absolutely safe. She suggested that Lü's reaction was due to her unique constitution, as other patients who used the anti-acne cream had no issues. Dr. Wu also stated that she recommended combined treatment for Lü because female hormones are closely related to menstrual pain, weight, and acne.
Lü Chou's face became severely swollen and covered in pustules after taking TCM and applying anti-acne cream, a stark contrast to her original appearance (right). Photo by Wu Zhen-hui.
Source: http:/ / 1- apple. com. tw/ index. ……30461023& NewsType=1& SubSec=6