Chinese hospitals used ‘fake plasma' on patients (Reuters)

[kurth]

Chinese hospitals used ‘fake plasma' on patients
Reuters
June 11, 2007 at 10:06 AM EDT

BEIJING — Eighteen big hospitals in northeastern China have been using fake human albumin, or plasma protein, to treat patients, state television reported in the latest food and medicine scandal to hit the country.

In regular checks made by the food and drug administration in Jilin province, seven of 36 batches of the albumin, fed into the bloodstream by drip, contained zero protein.

"There was no protein component," Xu Fei, deputy chief of Jilin food and drug inspection department, told China Central Television. "It will not have the benefit it should have. We can say it is an out-and-out fake product."

Experts said that use of the fake drip could put lives at risk for those already seriously ill...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070611.wchinafake0611/BNStory/International/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20070611.wchinafake0611

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Seems like China is having a teeeeeny bit of a quality control problem here and there.

[Deja Q]

2. If it costs less, do it.

Money is universal.