Chinese ER doctor who criticized alleged gov’t censorship about COVID-19 now missing

Dr. Ai Fen, head of the emergency department of Wuhan Central Hospital in China, has been reported missing, two weeks after she criticized the government’s alleged censorship about COVID-19.

Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontières or RSF) on Friday called on the Chinese government “to urgently clarify the situation of Dr. Ai Fen”.

According to the group, Dr. Ai Fen was reported missing by the Australian TV program 60 Minutes in its March 29 show.

The doctor previously gave an interview to the magazine Ren Wu, part of the People’s Daily group.

“In her media interviews, Dr. Ai Fen said China’s censorship delayed the adoption of measures against the coronavirus crisis and therefore contributed to its spread in China,” Cédric Alviani, head of RSF’s East Asia bureau, said.

“We urge the Chinese authorities to display the utmost transparency about her situation and, if she has been arrested, to immediately free her and all other journalists and information sources detained in China," he added.

According to RSF, the Ren Wun magazine issue containing Dr. Ai Fen’s interview was pulled out from newsstands. The article was also taken down from the magazine’s website.

RSF said the doctor’s family and colleagues are worried she may have been arrested by authorities.

Radio Free Asia also said Dr. Ai Fen could not be reached.

The doctor’s Weibo account is still active and some messages that were reassuring have been posted. However, RSF said their authenticity is being doubted.

Chinese authorities also allegedly arrested three journalists and three political commentators in the past two months after they voiced criticisms about the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, RSF said. 

RSF also said Dr. Ai Fen and her fellow doctors first revealed the danger of the novelcoronavirus on December 30.

Eight of the physicians were allegedly arrested by authorities on January 3 for spreading fake news, RSF said. —KG, GMA News