Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that a Flushing man is accused of performing acupuncture on a woman without a license, causing her lung to collapse.
File photo: Mark Hallum
A Flushing man is accused of administering an unlicensed acupuncture treatment to a woman that caused her lung to collapse more than a year ago, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said.
Yong De Lin, 66, was charged Sept. 18 with four counts of first- and second-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, and unauthorized professional conduct. The charges were filed in Queens Supreme Court.
On May 10, 2022, Shujuan Zhang, 63, went to C&W Medical at 3808 Union St. in Flushing to relieve abdominal and back pain and was referred to Lin, according to the indictment. She returned to the office on May 16, 2022, and Ms. Lin performed acupuncture on her stomach and her back. Jiang returned for 16 more treatments between May 18 and October 28. During her last treatment, Jiang felt unwell after the treatment and laid down. After giving her additional acupuncture and cupping treatments, Ms. Lin sent her Ms. Jiang to her home.
According to prosecutors, Jiang felt short of breath on the way home and collapsed on the sidewalk. A bystander called 911 and Jiang was taken to the hospital, where it was discovered that both of her lungs had collapsed due to the effects of her acupuncture treatment. She needed immediate surgery to save her life. Jiang remained hospitalized for six days.
According to prosecutors, Lin is not a licensed acupuncturist and has never applied for the required national certification.
“The difference between receiving care from a competent, licensed professional and an unqualified professional can be the difference between life and death,” Katz said. “As alleged, the defendant did not have a license and had no intention of applying for one, and he almost killed the patient. We urge other victims to come forward.”
Queens Supreme Court Judge Toni Cimino ordered Lin to return to court on September 20. If convicted, Lin could face up to 25 years in prison.
Meanwhile, Katz is asking anyone who received acupuncture treatment from Lin, who worked at the C&W Medical Office in Flushing, to contact her office’s elder fraud unit at 718-286-6578.
