FACED with kidney failure and having little chance of getting a kidney transplant here, Madam Lim S. J. headed for China for the surgery.

She survived the operation, but the trip turned out to be a nightmare.

The family found out, only after Madam Lim, 62, was warded, that she had been registered as a local. Visits to her were allowed only at nights and the $50,000 bill was inflated to over $200,000.

After her safe return to Singapore in September last year - after seven weeks there - the patient's husband went back to China and complained to the authorities.

Dr Chen Li Jun, assistant head of urology at Beijing 307 Hospital, is now being investigated by the Chinese authorities. The department told The Straits Times yesterday that Dr Chen is 'away the whole month clearing leave'.

Dr Chen's niece, Juliet Shih Hui Yu, a Chinese national married to a Singaporean, and the main source of Singaporean transplant patients going to the hospital, is also being investigated. She is under house arrest in Beijing.

Madam Lim's husband told The Straits Times that his wife, whose kidney had failed due to her long struggle against lupus, an autoimmune disease where the body turns against itself, was approached by Ms Shih in 2005.

She assured Madam Lim that many other Singaporean kidney patients had gone this route and were now happily home with a new lease of life. Madam Lim even met one.

Mr Lim's account comes after China announced new rules to curb 'transplant tourism' earlier this week.

All transplants for foreigners must now have approval from the central health authorities.

Singapore does not allow organ trading. Nor does it encourage seeking transplants overseas.

But since 2002, the 300 people who have had kidney transplants abroad have been allowed access to subsidised drugs when they return.

Madam Lim flew to Beijing at the end of 2005 for a medical check-up with Dr Chen. He charged her US$14,000 (S$21,300) and declared her suitable for a transplant. Ms Shih asked for another US$4,000 as hongbao for the supporting staff.

Madam Lim was assured of a private ward where her husband could stay with her - for US$230 a night. She had to wait 11 months for a kidney.

When she arrived at the hospital on Aug 7 last year, Ms Shih asked for a deposit of US$100,000, promising to return any unused amount on her discharge.

Without the deposit, she said, the doctor would not be able to 'guarantee' the success of the transplant. They paid since the transplant was scheduled for the next day, but it was postponed several times and the family was told not to visit in order to keep her free from infection.

After the successful transplant on Aug 21, the family was allowed short visits, but only at night. They were told to 'dress like locals', with shirts hanging out and slippers or sandals.

Several weeks passed with the doctor refusing to discharge her. Her husband tried to find out why there was such a long delay - only to be scolded by both Ms Shih and Dr Chen.

That was when Ms Shih told them the hospital was not allowed to treat foreigners, and if Madam Lim was caught posing as a local, she would be in trouble.

Mr Lim said he had no choice but to keep paying, as he feared for his wife's life. In all, he paid more than $200,000 - for a host of things, including better quality 'foreign' medicine and renovating her room for better hygiene.

The Beijing authorities are still in contact with Mr Lim, seeking further information. He and his family were in Beijing last month to sign affidavits.

salma@sph.com.sg

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