The CCP Falsifies Medical Records of Cheng Peiming’s Open-Chest Surgery with Numerous Flaws

September 4, 2024 During a press conference, Dr. Charles Lee stated that the only cause of the 35 cm scar on the left side of Cheng Peiming’s body was the removal of his organs. (Dajiyuan)

[People News] Cheng Peiming, the first known survivor of forced organ harvesting, recently appeared in the United States to publicly recount his harrowing experience. His revelations have caused extreme alarm within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). In response, CCP media outlets have begun publishing fabricated accounts and forged medical records to obscure the truth about Cheng’s ordeal.

According to reports by Dajiyuan journalists Zhang Hong and Yi Ru, Dr. Charles Lee, Executive Director of the Association to End Organ Harvesting in China, pointed out that the CCP’s recently published article admitted that Cheng Peiming underwent an open-chest surgery. However, details such as the reasons for the surgery, the procedure itself, and the length of the surgical scar were all falsified, riddled with contradictions and flaws.

The CCP Falsifies Medical Records to Counter Organ Harvesting Allegations

The CCP has intensified efforts to downplay the impact of Cheng Peiming’s revelations by publishing articles full of fabrications. On October 8, the website "China Anti-Cult Net" published a defamatory article titled Investigation of the First ‘Organ Harvesting Survivor’ Cheng Peiming, which painted a false narrative about how Cheng was "rescued" by a hospital.

The article forged a false medical record, inventing reasons for Cheng’s open-chest surgery in November 2004. It admitted to the surgery’s date and location but claimed it was performed due to Cheng allegedly swallowing nails and blades after being subjected to punishment. The article grossly exaggerated the size of the nails and blades, minimized the extent of the surgical incision, and omitted any mention of the removal of part of Cheng’s liver and lung during the procedure.

Dr. Lee explained that the article aimed to deny that parts of Cheng’s liver and lung were removed. The CCP fabricated a story claiming the surgery was a life-saving measure to obscure their crimes of organ harvesting.

“They [the CCP] went to Daqing City’s Fourth Hospital to find a doctor, then fabricated a medical record. This record is quite telling—it is entirely falsified, full of inconsistencies and blatant flaws,” Dr. Lee remarked. This attempt underscores the CCP’s desperation to conceal the truth about its organ harvesting operations.

Dr. Charles Lee Exposes Fabrications in Cheng Peiming’s Falsified Medical Records.

Fabricated Surgical Indicators

Cheng Peiming was not sent to the hospital for health reasons. Numerous cases documented by Minghui.org reveal that the CCP’s 610 Office issued secret orders stating that “beating Falun Gong practitioners to death would be treated as their own fault.” Falun Gong practitioners held in prisons, labor camps, and detention centers across China have routinely suffered torture, leading to disability, death, or, in severe cases, denial of medical treatment despite critical illness.

When Cheng Peiming was sent to the hospital, the CCP fabricated medical conditions to justify surgery. According to the falsified medical records cited in defamatory articles, Cheng was admitted to Daqing City’s Fourth Hospital thoracic surgery department for "esophageal and gastric foreign objects." The records claimed that "after swallowing foreign objects, the patient experienced worsening chest pain, abdominal bloating, and abdominal pain" and was described as being in “visible distress.”

Dr. Lee refuted these claims: "The CCP fabricated subjective symptoms for the patient, inventing reports of chest pain and abdominal pain. Cheng Peiming did not experience any of these symptoms at the time, so this was entirely made up."

Dr. Lee clarified that Cheng swallowed rusty nails and blades as an act of resistance against severe persecution, but he did not experience chest or abdominal pain or palpitations at the time. He was forcibly sent for surgery despite showing no physical discomfort.

"After suffering severe torture, Cheng fell to the ground and found a rusty nail and a rusty wallpaper blade on the windowsill of his small cell. He swallowed them both. Later, Daqing Prison sent him to Daqing City’s Fourth Hospital."

"At that time, he didn’t feel unwell. Cheng stated that the prison authorities forced him to undergo surgery, but he refused."

"After refusing, six police officers forcibly held him down. A nurse administered anesthesia, causing him to lose consciousness, and he was then taken for surgery."

Dr. Lee, a graduate of Zhongshan University Medical School in China and holder of a master’s degree in physiology from the University of Illinois, conducted imaging diagnostics research at Harvard Medical School and passed the U.S. medical licensing exams. At the press conference, Dr. Lee explained that the only valid reason for an open-chest surgery to remove a blade would be the rare occurrence of an aortoesophageal fistula (AEF). Such a condition arises from perforations in the aorta and esophagus, leading to symptoms like chest pain, hematemesis or hemoptysis (bright arterial blood), dizziness, tachycardia, rapid breathing, and a drop in blood pressure.

Fabricating the Need for Open-Chest Surgery

The CCP used the rusty nail and blade as the basis for their claims. The defamatory article repeatedly emphasized that the wallpaper blade and nail, being sharp objects, posed significant risks. The article claimed that the blade was lodged very close to the aorta in the esophagus, and if the esophagus were perforated and the aorta subsequently damaged, it could result in a life-threatening situation. According to the falsified medical records, the blade was stuck in the second narrow section of the esophagus, making removal via an endoscope difficult and necessitating open-chest surgery.

Additionally, the article stated that X-ray examinations conducted after Cheng Peiming's admission on November 16 showed that he had swallowed a nail approximately 10 cm long and a wallpaper blade measuring about 8.3 cm in length and 1.7 cm in width.

Dr. Charles Lee explained: "In fabricating the medical records, the CCP claimed that because the blade and nail were relatively large and sharp, they posed a significant danger. Therefore, they justified the need for open-chest surgery rather than removal through the oral cavity."

However, Dr. Lee pointed out a critical flaw: "The article emphasized the danger posed by the blade but did not mention any immediate emergencies such as aortic perforation or esophageal perforation."

Another key detail is the timeline: Cheng was admitted to the hospital between 8:00 and 9:00 PM on November 16, forcibly anesthetized, and the surgery was performed at 4:30 PM on November 17—a delay of 19 hours.
"If the situation were truly urgent, surgery should have been performed immediately, not delayed for 19 hours. This supposed 'emergency' is a fabricated illusion," Dr. Lee noted.

Exaggerating the Size of the Nail and Blade

To heighten the perceived danger, the CCP article repeatedly mentioned X-ray examinations that allegedly confirmed the size and location of the nail and blade in Cheng's body. According to the falsified medical records, a follow-up X-ray at 7:10 AM on November 17 indicated that the nail had shifted slightly, but the wallpaper blade remained lodged in the second narrow section of the esophagus.

However, the article failed to include any actual X-ray images reflecting the true condition of the blade.

Dr. Lee commented: "The CCP severely exaggerated the size of the nail and blade in their medical records."

"Cheng stated that the nail he swallowed was about two inches (5 cm) long, and the blade was about one and a half inches (3.8 cm). However, the fabricated medical records claim that the nail was 10 cm long and the blade was 8.3 cm, more than doubling their actual size."

"While the falsified medical records made these claims, they did not provide any photos. There were no X-rays or any radiological evidence included in the defamatory article—nothing at all."

Dr. Lee emphasized: "If these were genuine medical records, X-ray images should certainly have been included."

Multiple Contradictions in the Fabricated Medical Records

The CCP’s defamatory article failed to provide authentic X-ray images and instead included a fake image of a measurement for the nail and blade.

Dr. Charles Lee explained: "The nail and blade shown were photographed later as part of the fabricated medical records. While the records claim the blade was rusty, the photos of the nail and blade do not show any rust."

He added: "The contradictions in the fabricated medical records are glaringly obvious."

The article initially stated that the blade was too large and sharp, potentially cutting the esophagus and aorta, making removal through an endoscope via the mouth impossible, and thus requiring open-chest surgery. However, it later claimed that the blade was removed through the mouth.

According to the fabricated records, the surgery, performed at 4:30 PM on November 17, involved accessing the chest to locate the blade, which was then removed orally with the assistance of the otolaryngology department. The article described the blade as rusty.

Dr. Lee responded: "This further confirms that the chest incision was unnecessary. Once the chest was opened, the doctors did nothing significant. They simply felt around for the blade, determined it was movable, and then removed it through the mouth. The narrative of ‘saving Cheng’s life’ is entirely fabricated."

Falsifying the Post-Surgery Scar Length

The article also misrepresented the length of the surgical scar, reducing it by nearly half. It claimed that after removing the blade, doctors explored the abdominal cavity and located the nail in the small intestine, leaving a 20 cm scar after nearly three hours of surgery.

The article even included an image of Cheng Peiming from a U.S. press conference showing his surgical scar.

Dr. Lee clarified: "The article does not specify the size of the chest incision but ultimately claims the scar was 20 cm. In reality, Cheng’s chest scar is 35 cm long, stretching from the front of his chest to his back. This required opening the entire area between the fourth and fifth ribs."

He elaborated: "Once fully opened, the incision exposed the heart, lungs, and downward to the left lobe of the liver and kidneys. The incision was extensive."

"Additionally, after opening the diaphragm, they explored the abdominal cavity. Cutting the diaphragm was to remove Cheng’s left liver lobe."

When Cheng’s left liver lobe was removed, it left a major cut surface on the liver, which later developed scar tissue. A CT scan with 3D reconstruction confirmed the presence of torn scar tissue, proving the surgical removal of the left liver lobe.

Dr. Lee further pointed out: "Even if their goal was to remove the nail from the small intestine, a small incision in the abdomen would have sufficed. There was no need to cut through the diaphragm."

The diaphragm, a vital muscle involved in respiration, separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities and is controlled by nerves essential for breathing. Cutting it caused significant damage to Cheng’s health.

"Severing the diaphragm permanently disables its function. This has made breathing difficult for Cheng, as his left lung can no longer fully expand during respiration," Dr. Lee explained.

Fabricating Family Consent for Surgery

Cheng Peiming narrowly survived the forced organ harvesting surgery on November 17, 2004, but was fortunate to make it through. The defamatory article claimed that Cheng’s sister, Cheng Peifeng, signed the consent forms for his open-chest surgery and was present during both hospitalizations.

Dr. Charles Lee clarified: "Cheng Peifeng was not present at the time. Cheng Peiming himself recalls that before the first (open-chest) surgery, his elder sister and a younger sister visited him. He told them not to sign any consent forms, and Cheng Peifeng was not among them. After the surgery was completed, she was also not present."

Reports from Minghui.org in November 2004 corroborate that Cheng’s family was actively seeking ways to save him during this period.

On November 19, 2004, shortly after Cheng’s first surgery, photos of him in the hospital were swiftly uploaded to Minghui.org and his case was exposed internationally.

On November 26, Cheng’s parents, siblings, and wife protested outside Daqing City Hall, holding banners that read "Return Our Loved One Cheng Peiming" and raising photos of his suffering. They appealed directly to the mayor for justice, but the authorities ordered Cheng’s family to be arrested.

Cheng Peiming’s Original Medical Records Were Destroyed

The defamatory article titled The First “Organ Harvesting Survivor” Cheng Peiming: An Investigation has been widely republished across platforms such as the China Court Network, Tianjin Public Security Bureau’s official website, Toutiao, Sina, The Paper, NetEase News, Overseas Literature City, and the Warming Forum.

Dr. Lee denounced the article as entirely fabricated, with glaring inconsistencies throughout: "For the people inside China, it’s essential they know the truth. The CCP’s fabrications must be refuted in a targeted manner."

He added: "I firmly believe that Cheng Peiming’s original medical records have already been destroyed. Based on what we know, whenever Falun Gong practitioners are subjected to forced organ harvesting, officials from the 610 Office oversee the process. After the surgery, all donor data is forcibly destroyed."

"The entire case is fabricated. It’s not just a matter of adding a page or two to the medical record—the entire record and process have been falsified."

Dr. Lee also pointed out that despite the CCP’s fabrications, their actions inadvertently confirm key details of the organ harvesting crimes: "No matter how the CCP fabricates evidence, they cannot fully conceal the atrocities of organ harvesting. In fact, their attempts provide additional evidence."

He continued: "From another perspective, the article does confirm many details, such as the location and time of the surgery. It also admits that Cheng’s chest and diaphragm were cut open."

The article further confirmed that the surgery was performed without Cheng Peiming’s personal consent, highlighting the forced nature of the operation.

The CCP Continues Publishing Fabricated Articles to Conceal Organ Harvesting Truths

On July 3, August 7, and September 4 this year, the Washington D.C.-based Association to End Organ Harvesting in China held three press conferences in the U.S. capital. During these events, Cheng Peiming publicly shared his harrowing experience of being subjected to organ harvesting by the CCP. After arriving in the United States, Cheng underwent nine separate medical imaging examinations, all of which confirmed that parts of his left liver and lung had been removed.

Several prominent organ transplant experts, including Russell W. Strong, a pioneer in hepatobiliary and liver transplant surgery and an honorary retired professor, and David McGiffin, a professor and surgeon specializing in heart and lung transplantation, issued statements affirming that parts of Cheng's left liver and left lung had indeed been removed.

Regarding the CCP's repeated publication of defamatory articles in response to Cheng’s public disclosures, Canadian human rights lawyer David Matas remarked that such a reaction is not the CCP’s usual approach. Typically, the CCP issues blanket denials. Matas suggested that this intensified response might indicate the CCP’s attempt to cover up a larger truth. This response may not target Cheng alone but could aim to obscure the regime's crimes against the broader Falun Gong community.

In July 1999, the CCP launched its crackdown on Falun Gong. Around the same time, organ transplants in China experienced an explosive surge. Cheng Peiming’s forced organ harvesting occurred during 2004, a peak period for the CCP’s organ harvesting activities.

Investigative reports from the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong reveal that the CCP developed an industrial chain for harvesting organs from Falun Gong practitioners. Tens of thousands of detained Falun Gong practitioners in labor camps, prisons, and other facilities became a vast reservoir of transplantable organs. This facilitated the rise of "organ transplant tourism," where international patients flocked to China for transplant surgeries. Organs were often obtained in an alarmingly short time frame.

On June 17, 2019, the independent tribunal "China Tribunal" announced its findings in London. The tribunal concluded that the CCP’s forced organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience has been ongoing for years and continues to this day. The tribunal further identified Falun Gong practitioners as the primary source of organs for the CCP’s transplant industry.