Then, last autumn, Science News, a Chinese-language magazine of which Fang Xuanchang was then executive editor, devoted two issues to articles questioning the safety and efficacy of the Xiao procedure using as a source Fang Shimin's lawyer Peng Jian, a man with no scientific or medical background.

ECONOMIST: Chinese ethics: Scientists behaving badly | The

Meanwhile, similar accusations were posted under the pseudonym xysergroup (xys are the initials of Xin Yu Si) on two patient-support websites in America, SpinaBifidaConnection and CareCure, apparently trying to warn patients away from clinical trials based on Dr Xiao's procedure that are being undertaken in the United States.

ECONOMIST: Chinese ethics

More seriously, Dr Fang alleged that Dr Xiao had exaggerated the efficacy of a potentially revolutionary surgical procedure he had invented.

ECONOMIST: Chinese ethics