Thank the doctors who saved you — send thank-you letters, banners, or satisfaction ratings instead of cash gifts. The rules prohibit money, not gratitude.

11. Thank the doctors who saved you — send thank-you letters, banners, or satisfaction ratings instead of cash gifts. The rules prohibit money, not gratitude.

Cost: It costs nothing at all. Writing a thank-you letter or filling out a satisfaction survey takes just a few minutes.

In plain terms: Offering money beforehand to “jump the queue” won’t work — allocating appointment slots, beds, scarce medicines, tests, or surgeries is strictly forbidden. After treatment, it’s perfectly fine to show gratitude toward doctors who saved your life, but the method matters. Accepting cash or alcohol gifts puts them in violation of professional ethics. Three proper ways to thank them are: completing a satisfaction survey, writing a personalized thank-you letter, or presenting a commemorative banner, plus following medical advice for follow-up care.

Benefit: Article 7 of the “Nine Guidelines on Ethical Conduct for Medical Staff” (No. 41, 2021) states: “Maintain orderly medical practices and ensure fairness. Uphold equality to foster a just healthcare environment. It is strictly prohibited to accept personal benefits in exchange for allocating scarce medical resources such as appointment slots, beds, medicines, tests, or surgeries.” Article 8 adds: “Build harmonious relationships without accepting ‘red envelopes’ from patients. Adhere strictly to medical ethics and self-discipline.” It further specifies that accepting gifts, cash, gift cards, securities, or other valuables from patients or relatives is forbidden. Likewise, attending paid meals or entertainment arranged by patients is prohibited. Hospitals must enforce these rules, conduct inspections, and penalize violations. Satisfaction ratings now form part of performance evaluations for all tertiary public hospitals under national policy. According to official documents, hospital satisfaction comprises both patient and staff satisfaction, measured via surveys of outpatients, inpatients, and medical staff. A unified national platform collects these results, which are then factored into hospital performance reviews. Hospitals must also handle patient complaints per regulations, establishing dedicated offices to receive, investigate, and respond to concerns regarding medical services, safety, and quality. The relevant policy document was issued in 2019, 2020, and 2021 respectively, with all three years clearly stated in the official materials.

Evidence grade: A

Sources: National Health Commission of China (NHC), National Healthcare Security Administration of China, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (2021). Notice on Issuing Nine Guidelines for Integrity for Staff in Medical Institutions (National Health Commission [2021] No. 41). State Council of China Bulletin <http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2022/content_5678098.htm>; State Council of General Office of China (2019). Opinions on strengthening the performance appraisal of tertiary public hospitals (Guobanfa [2019] No. 4). <https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2019-01/30/content_5362266.htm>; National Health Commission of China (NHC) (2019). Measures for the Management of Complaints of Medical Institutions (Order No. 3). <https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2019-10/08/content_5436976.htm>

Notes: Both you and your doctors benefit from this practice. It does not mean you should never express gratitude — after a night of emergency treatment, it’s natural to want to say thanks. The key is choosing appropriate methods. Cash gifts and alcohol place doctors at risk of disciplinary action; thank-you letters, banners, and satisfaction ratings are fully aligned with official policies. If a doctor declines a gift you’ve already offered, it’s not personal — it’s his duty to refuse. Note also that offering gifts to doctors falls under professional ethics and hospital rules, whereas giving bribes to law enforcement or investigators constitutes a criminal offense under the law; these situations are entirely different. While thank-you letters and banners are widely accepted, there is no official rule stating they become part of personal or departmental records — this is merely anecdotal experience. Only the inclusion of satisfaction ratings in hospital performance assessments has solid policy backing. Should you have doubts about treatment, you may request immediate medical record sealing and retain copies for yourself as described in relevant sections. 〔40〕 〔40〕