In the beginning of the school year, some medical institutions have launched ads, such as “earning an eight-percent discount on a student's certificate” and “a student's nose is down to one dollar on a higher examination”, to reach out to young people. It is alarming to note that, in the medical industry, there is a great deal of confusion, consumer traps and irregularities, and the “free promises” of “private services” are common。
In april 2023, lulu, an alias working in beijing, was attracted by a beauty agency's promotional campaign: if he could become a brand name advocate, 36 beauty cards would be completed and $1378 “good faith money” would be returned in full. With the expectation of “free beauty” and with the agreement and payment of the agency, it was not surprising that a lawsuit had taken almost a year for this “concessional” activity。
“at the beginning of the appointment, 12 services were completed in the previous three months. But from august 2023 onwards, the agency suddenly changed its face.” according to lulu, she had made nearly 20 micro-mail appointments, but had been repeatedly refused by staff members on the grounds that “the hairdresser had taken leave” and “the instrument was overhauled” and “the appointment was full”. Sometimes it is difficult to make a successful appointment, and when you arrive at the store, you are temporarily informed that “service is not available” and can only be rescheduled。
Until the expiry of the agreement in april 2024, the number of beatings by the land was 35, and the agreement was not fulfilled once. When lulu requested the return of the “good faith money”, the beauty agency refused to refund the money on the ground of “failure”。
“they put the blame on me when they deliberately refused to let me finish my card.” as a result, lu lu lu referred the beauty agency to the people's court of the tondai district of beijing, where she submitted microclinic records that clearly indicated the process of multiple refusals to make appointments。
The court found that the agreements entered into by the parties were valid and that the frequent refusal and postponement of services by the beauty-dressing agencies on unreasonable grounds constituted “an undue impediment to the achievement of the conditions of refund for their own benefit”. According to article 159 of the civil code of the people's republic of china, the conditions for refund shall be considered fulfilled. On this basis, the court ruled that the beauty agency had returned the full amount of $13780 “good faith”。
“this type of `card return' `free experience' marketing campaign is often hidden.” the presiding judge in the case stated that the more consumers were served, the higher the cost to the merchant, the less business logic would have been to “free services”。
The judge explained that merchants often use the consumer's “negative” mentality to attract payments with “full refunds” as bait, and then circumvent the obligation to refund by imposing harsh card conditions, maliciously obstructing performance, and blurring contractual terms. “some consumers are attracted by `full refunds' commitments, neglecting retention evidence, and making it more difficult to defend their rights in the event of a dispute.”
Beijing citizen kim vi (alias) paid for his belief in “low-cost health care”. In june 2023, she met dr. Lee at a beauty clinic when she was making skin. Having learned that gimway wanted to inject water needles, dr. Lee suggested that “it would be cheaper to serve at home at 30% less than at the clinic”. She agreed to this “private deal”。
On 9 august 2023, gimway came to dr. Lee's house for injection. "the whole trip was blindfolded, and he was told to use glued protein, or a "new medicine" from the pharmacy." she said that soon after the injection, she suffered from fever, severe facial pain, medically diagnosed as “inflammation bulges” requiring hormonal treatment。
However, the last three months of treatment have not alleviated the symptoms. Her face has increased, scarred and caused complications such as endocrine disorders, leading to irregular work。
The injuries of gimbé constitute a class 10 disability. She sued dr. Lee and his beauty clinic to the people's court of the zhongyang district of beijing city, claiming compensation for various losses such as medical expenses, lost work, etc。
During the hearing, dr. Lee argued that he was using “regular type ii medical devices”, without fault, while the beauty clinic stated that the service took place at dr. Lee's home and that the medicine was not provided by the clinic and was not related to the clinic。
The court found that dr. Lee had not carried out medical activities in accordance with a registered practice (a beauty clinic) and that his injection of glued protein “source unknown” did not provide proof of legal compliance。
Accordingly, the court found dr. Lee's irregularity to have resulted in the disability of gimway and awarded him compensation for medical expenses, disability compensation, moral damages, etc., amounting to more than $230,000, and dismissed her claim for lack of evidence that the beauty clinic was involved in the service。
“medical beauty is not a `family routine' and must be operated by a certified physician in a regular medical institution.” the presiding judge in this case stated that the medical beauty service was highly professional and risky and that projects involving injections and intrusiveness were medical acts subject to strict clinical norms. “the private provision of medical and medical services is not only the source of the product that is not secure, but also the operating environment that does not meet health standards and is highly susceptible to serious consequences such as infection, allergies and even disability.”
In june 2025, the zhejiang province's ningbo municipal consumers' rights protection commission issued a consumption alert: to guard against the risk of “super-adaptation” of medicines, devices and devices in order to catch up with “summer slots” or to market projects, medical institutions were requested to provide specific use areas and detailed risk statements (e. G., probabilities of nerve damage, recovery periods, etc.), alternative treatment programmes; and to carefully purchase large advance cards, which adequately assess their needs and economic capacity and take stock of the reimbursement rules。
The judge of the people's court of hoangyang district, beijing, reminded that medical doctors must strictly observe the relevant technical practices and carry out medical activities in registered health institutions according to the type and scope of practice registered. Doctors who violate the law by providing medical beauty services to consumers in non-health institutions are liable for damage to consumers. Consumers need to guard against the “beauty trap” and, when receiving medical beauty services, be careful to select formal, legitimate medical and medical institutions and licensed physicians, and not to believe in illegal propaganda, greed and cheapness at the expense of their own interests. (reporter liu jin-jin)
