Recently, the medical community has made waves again. Tan Qindong, a medical master who was hunted down across provinces 6 years ago because of a popular science article criticizing a certain brand of medicinal wine, announced that his kidney failure was irreversible and his life was about to come to an end.
Recalling the sensational "Hongmao Medicinal and Liquor Incident" six years ago, I have mixed feelings. Today, let's review the price paid by this doctor for the truth of science popularization, and think about how to create a more relaxed and open public opinion environment.
A piece of sincerity starts a wave of crusade
In 2017, Tan Qindong received a bottle of Hongmao medicinal wine bought by his father. As a medical expert, he immediately discovered that this medicinal wine, which is sold as a "strong body", contains some toxic substances, and long-term use is prone to major side effects. Out of the mission of medical ethics, he wrote short articles to point out problems and took it as his responsibility to save people.
Unexpectedly, as soon as the article came out, it immediately triggered a response from public opinion. The company involved accused the article of "defaming goodwill", and even reported him for "spreading rumor information". Not long after, law enforcement officers from Inner Mongolia Province suddenly visited and took Tan Qindong away for investigation. Regrettably, there was a lack of formal procedures throughout the process and his human rights were ignored.
Three months in prison and hell were devastating
Prison life is hard for anyone. As an intellectual, it was even more difficult for Tan Qindong to adapt to the harsh environment there. He was under great psychological pressure and physical torture, his diabetes symptoms worsened, and his mental condition was getting worse and worse.
Three months later, with the support of public opinion, Tan Qindong was released. But the outside world only saw that his eyes were full of pain and resentment, and this once high-spirited man has now become a nervous patient.
The path to medical treatment was interrupted and his health declined
After being released from prison, Tan Qindong tried to return to the front line of medical treatment, but was treated "unfriendly" by many companies. Eventually, he was forced to declare his departure from the doctor's path. And as time went on, long-term stress and trauma also made his health worse.
Today, according to him, the kidneys have failed. Irreversible damage to other major organs has also occurred. Any doctor knows that the countdown to life has quietly begun.
The cost of popular science and our thinking
Tan Qindong's greatest pursuit in life is to spread the truth and save lives. But he paid the price of losing everything. This is undoubtedly a wake-up call for every scientist.
We should think about whether we need to formulate more sound laws to protect the freedom of scientific public opinion, whether we need to create a rational and inclusive public opinion environment, whether we need to punish enterprises that violate the law and coerce others, and how should life be respected?
Sincerely seek common answers from everyone. I hope that in the future, there will never be a scientific pioneer like Tan Qindong who has paid a heavy price. Only in this way can the ideas involved in his misfortune truly take root and have a profound impact. Now that the countdown to his life has begun, it is necessary for each of us to reflexively review it to prevent such cases from happening again. It will be the best memorial to him.
Tan Qindong will eventually leave, but his heart dedicated to popular science will always accompany us. From him, we learn to be faithful to the truth and to serve humanity. He practiced the most sincere morality at a high price, which would be a model of medical attainment.
At the same time, his experience also points out the direction for us - how society should create a more inclusive and rational public opinion environment, protect the right of every scientific worker to speak freely, and protect their legitimate rights and interests for the well-being of the people.