Doctor Shao Falls to Death After Online Harassment, Husband Speaks Out: She Reported to Police Before Her Death, Letter Asks Him to Clear Her Name

August 5, 2025 — A tragic incident has gripped the nation as Dr. Shao, a respected obstetrician at Zhoukou No. 6 People’s Hospital in Henan Province, fell to her death after enduring prolonged online harassment. Her husband, Mr. Zhang, has spoken out, revealing that Dr. Shao had filed a police report before her death and left a final letter urging him to restore her reputation.

According to Mr. Zhang, Dr. Shao’s death was the result of a series of medical disputes that spiraled into online abuse. The incidents, which began with two separate cases of patient dissatisfaction, escalated when the families of the patients began interacting on social media platforms such as Douyin (TikTok). This led to the involvement of online trolls who targeted Dr. Shao with increasingly aggressive and defamatory content.

On July 30, Dr. Shao went to the Taohao Road Police Station to report the harassment. However, the police reportedly did not open an investigation and dismissed her concerns. This left her in a state of deep distress, and Mr. Zhang had to comfort her over the phone. A week later, on July 31, Dr. Shao and hospital staff returned to the police station with Mr. Zhang, who had taken leave from his job to accompany her. This time, the police did open an investigation, but no clear resolution was provided, and no action was taken to remove the defamatory content from the internet.

On August 1, Dr. Shao posted a final farewell video on Douyin and had a video call with her grandchildren. She left behind a handwritten letter for her husband, detailing the circumstances of the medical disputes and urging him to clear her name. She then jumped from a building, leaving behind a grieving family and a community in shock.

Following the incident, the police retrieved Dr. Shao’s phone and removed the farewell video and all related content from the accused accounts. On August 2, the local police, health commission, and hospital held a meeting, with the police forming three task forces to investigate the three accounts involved in the online harassment.

In the aftermath, many of Dr. Shao’s former patients have come forward to express their grief and praise her compassionate care. One patient shared how Dr. Shao had comforted her during childbirth when she was scared and trembling. Another patient recounted how Dr. Shao had held her hand during a life-threatening complication, providing unwavering support and reassurance.

Mr. Zhang, who is also a doctor and often works in different cities, described his wife as a devoted professional who never took time off, even when she was exhausted. He emphasized that she was always on standby, ready to help in any emergency, despite the personal cost.

The medical disputes that led to the online harassment involved three separate cases. The first case involved a patient who had undergone a life-saving hysterectomy due to placental embolism. The family later accused the hospital of causing their “lineage to end” by taking the uterus, demanding 1 million yuan in compensation. The second case involved a mother who insisted on a natural birth despite the risks, resulting in a fetal death. The third case involved a child who developed cerebral palsy two years after birth, with the family blaming the hospital for the condition, despite evidence indicating other possible causes.

Despite the hospital’s efforts to explain the medical records and provide evidence, the families continued to publish defamatory content online. The police have since launched an investigation, but the public remains concerned about the lack of accountability and the need for stronger measures to protect medical professionals from online abuse.

As of now, the Zhoukou Municipal Health Commission has released a statement confirming the incident and stating that an investigation is underway. However, the hospital and police have been unresponsive to further inquiries, leaving many questions unanswered.

This tragic event has sparked a nationwide conversation about the need for better protection of medical professionals from online harassment and the importance of addressing medical disputes through legal and ethical channels rather than social media outrage.

Keywords:
Dr. Shao, online harassment, medical disputes, Zhoukou No. 6 People’s Hospital, police investigation, patient rights, public health, legal accountability

Description:
Dr. Shao, a respected obstetrician, fell to her death after enduring prolonged online harassment linked to three medical disputes. Her husband revealed that she had reported the abuse to police but was not adequately supported, leading to her tragic decision. The incident has sparked a national debate on the protection of medical professionals from online abuse and the need for legal resolution of medical disputes.