On 12/7, a woman collapsed on a street in Hengyang City. A nearby female doctor immediately began administering CPR, but after becoming exhausted, she asked the surrounding crowd for someone to take over.
Pan, a 42-year-old medical instructor at a local university, was cycling by and offered his assistance.
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Pan performing CPR on the woman. Photo: Weibo |
Pan performing CPR on the woman. Photo: Weibo
Pan and the doctor took turns performing CPR. After about 10 minutes, the woman began breathing again and weakly opened her eyes before being transported to a hospital.
A video of the rescue quickly circulated on social media, attracting negative comments. Some accused Pan of inappropriate touching. "He's clearly touching her chest," one comment read. Others said, "It's better to let women do CPR," or "Why not rub her stomach?"
Pan expressed fear and disappointment at the online backlash. He explained to the media that he has a clinical medical degree, CPR training, and currently teaches at a medical university. "I tried my best to keep my hands correctly positioned on the sternum, as I was trained. If I had done it wrong, the doctor or medical staff would have corrected me," he shared.
The incident sparked a debate about social ethics and basic medical knowledge. Fortunately, some supported Pan, arguing that lifesaving actions shouldn't be judged based on gender or personal feelings.
"No one was thinking about whether he was touching her chest when the victim's life was at stake," said Deng, a witness at the scene.
CPR requires forceful compressions on the sternum, the center of the chest where the heart is located. This can cause rib fractures and bruising, but it is essential to maintain blood circulation.
The controversy surrounding Pan's actions is not isolated. In China, there have been cases of people hesitating to help others due to fear of misunderstanding, lawsuits, or online scrutiny. This fear is gradually eroding the spirit of mutual support.
"We need more people like Pan, who are professionally trained, willing to act, and don't turn their backs on emergencies," one person wrote.
Nhat Minh (Jiupai News/SCMP)
