Guilty plea in Chinese medical negligence case
A practitioner of Chinese medicine has pleaded guilty to medical negligence, after she sold a banned substance to a woman.
As a result of consuming the substance, the woman went on to develop kidney failure and cancer.
The 48 year old from Holland-on-Sea in Essex, has been on trial at the Old Bailey for selling pills containing aristolochic acid.
The judge said he accepted that the practitioner had not meant to harm and gave her a conditional discharge.
It was reported that the 58 year old civil servant took the pills for over five years.
She was in her mid-40s when she first sought help from the medical centre in 1997 for stubborn patches of spots on her face.
The Old Bailey heard the products had been promoted as "safe and natural" but aristolochic acid was later banned.
The woman became severely ill months after she stopped taking the pills.
It was found that her kidneys had failed and was later diagnosed with cancer of the urinary tract - both allegedly caused by the pills.
The Chinese medical practitioner, who had initially denied charges of professional negligence, pleaded guilty to selling prescription-only medicines without authorisation and to selling a banned substance.
It is unknown if the victim will file a compensation claim.Updated on 22/02/2010