Two medical students suspended for one year over offensive livestream

Hanoi University of Business and Technology has suspended two fourth-year medical students for one year after they used offensive language during a livestream at a hospital internship.

Nguyen Van Long, permanent deputy director of the university's Media Center, stated on 31/7 that all disciplinary council members agreed on this punishment after considering several factors.

"The university is determined to firmly address disciplinary violations to maintain a healthy educational environment", Long said.

Five days prior, a video circulated on social media showing two young women, dressed in medical attire, sitting at the reception desk of Duc Giang General Hospital, livestreaming on TikTok.

During the livestream, the two individuals pointed directly at the screen, used offensive language, and threatened to "inject poison" into someone interacting with them on the livestream.

The video quickly spread across various social media platforms. Republished posts garnered thousands of interactions, comments, and shares. Many people expressed frustration and concern, believing the two women were medical staff whose actions and statements were inappropriate and unprofessional within a hospital setting.

Hanoi University of Business and Technology later confirmed the incident occurred during a night shift on 25/7 in the Pediatrics Department at Duc Giang Hospital. The university also affirmed that the statements in the video were personal and did not align with the ethical standards or culture expected of its students.

The university reported that the two students attended the disciplinary council meeting, acknowledged their actions were wrong, and expressed remorse.

Associate Professor, Doctor Pham Duong Chau, vice principal in charge of Hanoi University of Business and Technology, told VnExpress on 27/7 that students making inappropriate statements is unacceptable.

"The university not only teaches professional skills but also ethics and character, because medical professionals should be like kind mothers", Chau said. "Students must take responsibility for their actions".

In addition to the disciplinary council meeting, the university also collaborated with Duc Giang General Hospital to address the issue with all students.

Hanoi University of Business and Technology began offering its medical program in 2016. The current annual tuition is 66,28 million VND. Admission scores for this major typically align with the general minimum threshold set by the Ministry of Education and Training; last year, it was 20,5 for the three high school graduation exam subjects combination.