Beijing Today

The retired doctor at the Beijing No. 301 Hospital rose to global fame in early April when he released to the media the true numbers of SARS patients in several Beijing hospitals. Since then, he has ※received numerous calls from relatives, students, patients and media who have exprssed concern over his situation,§ according to a China News Agency report last Friday.！ am under no pressure, nor have any restrictions been placed on me. Everything in my life just goes on as usual,§ the 72-year-od professor said.

The report described Jiang︿ daily routine as getting up at 7 am, bicycling to buy some vegetables, surfing the Internet and reading. Mondays are exceptions, when he usually checks the surgery wards of Beijing No. 301 Hospital.

As a renowned surgeon in the field of tumors, Jiang Yanyong is still active in some complex operations and is regularly invited to attend consultations.

※My skills originate from my patients so I should try my best to relieve their miseries with the skills I＊ve learnt. This also reflects the spirit of my Alma Mater,§ Jiang was quoted by China News Agency as sayingAfter graduating from Peking Union Medical College Hospital in 1957, Jiang was assigned to work in the General Hospital of the Chinese People＊s Liberation Army (Beijing No. 301 Hospital) according to the report. Because of his family＊s connection with the Kuomingtung, Jiang wasbranded a counterrevolutionary during the Cultural Revolution and sent to Qinghai to work in a labor camp for four years. He returned to No. 301 Hospital in 1971 and resumed his medical career.

Jiang commented positively on the disease prevention and control work of the central and municipal government, the China News Agency report said.

The retired doctor has been giving most of his attention to the latest research progress on SARS, recording the data to present to the medicalaccording to the report.

Jiang was praised by Finance magazine for having contributed to the increasing transparency in China＊s handling of SARS.The Ministry of Health claimed in TV reports on April 3 that SARS had been controlled and that there had been only 12 SARS cases and three SARS related deaths in Beijing. After watching this report, Jiang sent an email to Phoenix TV and China Central Television on April 4 and April 5 respectively, informing them of the real numbers of cases he had verified from several military hospitals.

In the letter, Jiang called for accurate reporting on the emergent SARS epidemic, and expressed the hope that the news media ︷ould take responsibility for the life and health of mankind,§ according to the May 5 report inFinance.

Jiang＊s letter was reeased by the Times magazine of America on April 8 and has aroused worldwide attention ever since, pushing the government to release epidemic information in a more accurate and timely manner.

When asked by Finance Magazine why he wrote the letter, Jiang Yanyong＊s answer was If a doctor didn＊t speak out the truth, more people would die, and the country would suffer.§

He added that he had said all that needed to be said, and that he did not want to be in the limelight again.

Editor Cilla