Web giant Baidu under scrutiny after man seeking cures for cancer dies
A young man, suffering from synovial sarcoma, trusts “medical advice” found on most popular search engine and dies after spending hundreds of thousands of yuan. His death unleashes public ire against companies that pay to obtain "best result" in the online searches. Hospitals also under fire; now entire departments are outsourced to private health companies.
Beijing (AsiaNews) - Chinese regulators have opened an investigation into the national web giant, online search engine Baidu, and the methods by which it offers medical advice to the public. Their inquiry was sparked by the death of Wei Zexi, 21 (see photo), who suffered from a rare synovial sarcoma. This form of cancer is very difficult to cure, and the Xidian University student decided to try an experimental therapy found on Baidu. Despite the more than 200 thousand yuan spent (about 27 thousand euro), he died on 12 April.
The terminal diagnosis was communicated to the young man in 2014. His parents sought desperately for a some sign of hope for their only son, and through an online search discovered that the Hospital of the Armed Forces of the Beijing Contingent was carrying out an experimental therapy for the disease. Wei met with the hospital doctors who assured him: "The latest technologies developed by Stanford University have 90% effectiveness. You can live for another 20 years".
To dispel any remaining doubts, Wei did a further search on Baidu for more information. After reading that the hospital was ranked among the best in the country and that the doctors were even interviewed by state television, he decided to trust them. After a short time, however, the cancer reached his lungs and his general condition worsened: The doctor claimed that it was a "possibility" and asked Wei to continue treatment in that hospital.
Suspicious, the young student contacted the United States and confirmed all doubts: The so-called latest technology was outdated in US. Stanford also told media that they did not cooperate with any hospitals in China.
After Wei’s death, internet users began to attack Baidu. The web giant eliminated the online advertising and defended itself claiming that the hospital "is a state structure and therefore trustworthy." However, some surveys reveal that the management has outsourced entire departments to the private sector.
It is not the first time the search engine finds itself the source of public ire. In January, its management of health forums, entrusted to private companies who obviously were sponsoring their own care, was criticized. Previously in 2008, Baidu accepted money in exchange for the elimination of negative information on the poisoned milk scandal that affected 300 thousand children across the country, killing at least six.
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