A man from New York City was accused of carrying out acupuncture without a license after puncturing a woman's lungs during treatment, sending her to a hospital for emergency surgery, prosecutors announced.
Yong De Lin, 66, was arraigned Monday on four criminal counts in connection with unlicensed treatments he performed on Shujuan Jiang, 63, between May and October of last year, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said. .
According to the indictment, Jiang, 63, visited a doctor's office in the Flushing section of Queens on May 10, 2022, to relieve stomach and back pain, and met Lin.
Lin administered 17 treatments to Jiang over the next few months even though he is not a licensed acupuncturist and has not even applied for a New York state license to practice acupuncture, Katz said.
Jiang began to feel unwell during the last session on Oct. 28, Katz said in a news release. Lin performed additional acupuncture and cupping treatment and sent Jiang home, Katz said in a news release.
Jiang collapsed on the sidewalk on the way home, Katz said. A passerby called 911 and Jiang was taken to a hospital where it was determined that both lungs had collapsed due to acupuncture treatments. Life-saving surgery was performed and Jiang was hospitalized for six days.
"The difference between receiving medical care from a competent, licensed professional or someone without a license can mean the difference between life and death," Katz said, adding that Lin "almost killed his patient."
Lin was charged with first- and second-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment and unauthorized practice of a profession. He is due back in court on Wednesday.
Lin's attorney, Kathleen Gallo, did not immediately respond to a voicemail Tuesday seeking comment.
