A four-year-old boy in China had to have his finger amputated after his father took him to a foot massage parlor to treat a fungal nail infection. according to South China Morning PostIn July the boy’s father took him to Luozhendong Foot Massage Parlor in China’s Chongqing Municipality for treatment of an infection in the nail of his left index finger. The shop claimed to have a medicine called “Nail Removal Cream” that could work wonders for the boy’s problem.
At the foot massage parlor, they cauterized the boy’s infected nail and tied it with an elastic bandage. The father paid 600 yuan ($86 or more than Rs 7,000) to the parlor for the treatment. However, after two days, the father discovered that his son’s finger had become weak and black. SCMP,
The father then took his son to hospital, where doctors diagnosed gangrene – a serious condition where body tissue dies due to lack of blood supply. Doctors said the boy’s fingers had to be amputated to prevent further infection. He was classified as having a Class 10 disability.
according to SCMPThe father demanded more than 200,000 yuan ($29,000 or Rs 23 lakh) as compensation from the store, which rejected his claim thinking it was too much. The father also reported the matter to the local District Consumer Council in February.
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After investigation, the Consumer Council found that the “nail removal cream” was not properly licensed. It also turned out that the cream only had sterilization properties and was not able to cure anything. Furthermore, the council found that the name of the shop was different from the name on their business licence.
The consumer council held the foot massage parlor responsible for the boy’s disability and urged it to suspend its business and pay 160,000 yuan ($23,000 or Rs 19 lakh) to the boy’s family.
After the incident, the local government also reminded consumers to seek hospital treatment for health conditions.
Meanwhile, users on social media called the boy’s father irresponsible. One person wrote, “What an irresponsible father, taking his son to a foot massage shop instead of a hospital to get treatment for his illness.”
