Thoracotomy

开胸验肺 (kāixiōng yànfèi): thoracotomy

The Occupational Illness and Prevention Center waves its arms and says, “What needs to be made clear is that our initial diagnosis was not tuberculosis.” (NetEase)

Incision into the chest cavity in preparation for lung surgery. This painful procedure was immortalized in Chinese Internet discourse in 2009, when migrant worker Zhang Haichao underwent surgery to prove that he had a serious lung disease.

Before the procedure, Zhang Haichao had received numerous diagnoses of the lung disease pneumoconiosis. The condition, generally considered an occupational disease, was caused by Zhang’s employment at an abrasive materials factory near Zhengzhou, Henan. In order to receive worker’s compensation, Zhang needed to receive a diagnosis from a “legally designated occupational illness hospital” (法定的职业病诊断机构)—an institute that first refused to issue any diagnosis, and only under pressure incorrectly diagnosed Zhang with tuberculosis.

Zhang spent two years petitioning the government and finally underwent the thoracotomy to prove his condition. After an outpouring of online support, Zhang was awarded RMB 615,000 in workers compensation.

The case garnered attention for issues concerning workers’ rights in China, as documented by the China Labour Bulletin.

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