SPP: Hospitals broke procedure

Prosecuting departments in East China's Zhejiang and Shandong provinces have conducted a thorough investigation into two recent hospital malpractices that led to patients being infected by HIV and hepatitis B.

According to the Supreme People's Procuratorate, violations of operating procedures were mainly blamed for the contamination of patients' blood.

"We will pay close attention to the latest developments in the investigation and trace their progress, and supervise local prosecuting departments to properly handle the cases," said a senior official at the SPP's investigation and supervision department who declined to reveal his name.

He said they will ensure the cases are "dealt with in accordance with the law to protect people's legitimate rights and other interests".

In early February, five people were infected with HIV after a technician at Zhejiang Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital in Hangzhou reused pipettes on separate patients, according to Zhejiang Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission.

In Shandong, nine patients were infected with hepatitis B during dialysis in January after medical staff in the hospital's hemodialysis unit neglected their duties.

The SPP will release investigation results to the public in a timely manner when progress is made. If the medical staff is found to be involved in malpractice or negligence they will face criminal punishment according to the law.