Sohu reported on 31/1 that after an elderly male patient underwent an examination at Wuzhong City People's Hospital in Ningxia province, his relatives checked the results on the hospital's online portal. They were astonished to see the entry: "gynecological color Doppler ultrasound".

The ultrasound report detailed "early intrauterine pregnancy" and "cannot rule out the possibility of arrested fetal development," along with specifics on the uterus's anteverted position and the gestational sac's size.

On 30/1, this ultrasound result was widely shared, becoming a focal point on social forums across China. Many users sarcastically commented on a "medical miracle" or "a candidate for the 2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine." A number of individuals expressed concern. One comment read, "If this isn't a pregnancy mistake but a malignant tumor, would the patient be subjected to unnecessary surgeries?"

Illustration: Northway Clinic

That same afternoon, a representative from Wuzhong City People's Hospital confirmed the incident and acknowledged the error. An initial investigation revealed that Mr. Tran had an ultrasound in the diagnostic imaging department on the afternoon of 22/1. The hospital representative affirmed that the paper ultrasound report the patient received immediately afterward contained "entirely accurate" information. The error occurred on 29/1 when the hospital was digitizing data to allow patients online access. According to the hospital's announcement, "a system malfunction in the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) that day, coupled with staff negligence in oversight, led to incorrect information in the electronic report."

The hospital apologized to the patient and his family, pledging to review its entire electronic reporting system from that period to rectify issues thoroughly and prevent similar errors. However, many people believe the hospital is blaming technology, speculating that "ultrasound results are often copied and pasted for speed; perhaps the previous information belonged to a pregnant woman."

Numerous similar incidents have been recorded recently. In 9/2025, a 73-year-old man undergoing a gastroscopy was mistakenly recorded as having an "egg retrieval" procedure, a technique used in assisted reproduction. In 12/2023, a male patient in Sichuan received a CT scan result indicating a "normal uterus, no abnormalities detected." These systemic errors present a significant challenge for the medical sector, necessitating stricter diagnostic procedures to prevent oversights that erode patient trust.

The ultrasound result for Mr. Tran, 73, on 29/1, showed "early intrauterine pregnancy: cannot rule out the possibility of arrested fetal development". Photo: Sohu

By Binh Minh (According to Sohu, The Paper)