Slapping therapy ends in death
Key Takeaways
Industry Insights
“You know when something is abusive.” “Therapy is not supposed to be comfortable, [but] it is also not supposed to go out of its way to hurt you.” - Noah Kass, DSW, LCSW
An alternative healer has been convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years in prison following the death of one of his students, a 71-year-old diabetic woman who is said to have stopped taking her insulin during one of his workshops.[]
According to CBS News, the alternative healer—61-year-old Hongchi Xiao—did not seek medical attention for the woman, even as she frothed at the mouth and screamed in pain. Additionally, Xiao may have encouraged the woman to stop taking her insulin by allegedly saying “well done" after hearing that she had stopped taking the medication, the BBC reported.[]
He also promoted unusual and potentially dangerous therapies like paida lajin, which involves patients repeatedly being slapped or slapping themselves.[] The therapy has roots in traditional Chinese medicine and is said to help flush out toxins from the blood. However, depending on the amount of force used, a person can harm themselves by bruising the skin or damaging blood vessels.
Bonnie Mitchell, DBH, LPCC, Clinical Director of drug and alcohol rehabilitation center Healthy Life Recovery, says that she only recently learned of slapping therapy. As a doctor of behavioral health, she says that she would “never encourage someone to stop their medications”—which is out of her scope of practice—and would instead recommend that the patient meet with their medical provider.
“This is a good example of why providers need to coordinate care. Someone may not know the extent [that] stopping their medications can have on their physical or mental health,” Mitchell says. “Stopping medications abruptly can have dire consequences, even leading to death.”
Mitchell adds that some patients may choose to ignore their doctors and elect to stop their medications, which is a personal choice. If this happens, the therapy practitioner still “has a responsibility to inform the patient of the benefits, risks, and potential side effects” of alternative treatments, she says.
“To not monitor patients in one's care is negligence,” Mitchell adds.
Noah Kass, DSW, LCSW, a psychotherapist at Kass Therapy and Hypnosis, says that if he noticed a patient stopping their medication in pursuit of alternative therapies, he would encourage the patient to “to let their psychiatrist or nurse practitioner know that they have stopped the medication they were prescribed so they can coach them on possible withdrawal side effects and maybe even tell them about other medications that may be more helpful.”
Kass says that he had not previously heard of slapping therapy, “but [that] it sounds awful.”
“You know when something is abusive,” he adds. “Therapy is not supposed to be comfortable, [but] it is also not supposed to go out of its way to hurt you.”
If therapists are promoting any kind of extreme therapy—such as extreme exercise or extreme fasting—Mitchell says it is essential to make sure that your patient has been medically cleared to participate in this therapy and to take steps to monitor their safety throughout by:
Getting a full history of the patient's medical history, disease symptoms, and medical treatments;
Coordinating care with the patient's other providers;
Talking to the patient about risks, benefits, and potential side effects of each therapy prior to starting them;
Monitoring the patient for mental or physical deterioration during the therapy and encouraging medical guidance for any and all medication changes; and
Ensuring the patient has an emergency contact and an advanced care directive on file.
As doctors, talk to your patient about why you are recommending certain medications for their health and answer questions about alternative therapies. You want your patient to be aware of the risks and benefits of treatments so that they can make healthy choices that support the care you are giving—or trying to give—them. If your patient is interested in pursuing a new therapy technique, encourage them to seek experienced providers and to check in with you about any medical changes that may occur throughout their treatments.