Minister speaks out on ‘ruthless’ corpse cover-up   Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien talks with reporters about the case in which Dr Nguyen Manh Tuong threw the body of Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen, 37, into the Hong River after her postsurgical death on October 19. Tuoi Tre Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien strongly condemned the owner of Hanoi-based Cat Tuong Beauty Salon for dumping his female customer’s body into a river after she died at his salon following a cosmetic surgery.  Speaking for the first time to the media on Friday about the case in which Dr. Nguyen Manh Tuong threw the body of Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen, 37, into the Hong (Red) River after her postsurgical death on October 19, Minister Tien considered his act “inhuman”. “During the past days, the public opinion has been stirred up with anger at the ruthless and conscienceless act committed by Dr. Tuong. Not only I but also anyone working in the health sector experienced a combined feeling of shock, indignation, pain and mournfulness over the case,” Minister Tien said.  As previously reported, Dr. Tuong conducted a botched cosmetic surgery on Huyen on October 19, leading to her death the same day. After she died, Tuong and his salon’s security guard carried the woman’s body to the Thanh Tri Bridge in Hanoi and threw it into the Hong (Red) River below in an attempt to cover up the case. Police arrested Tuong and the security guard on October 22. After that, both police and Hanoi Health Department confirmed that Tuong’s salon operated without a license. Dr Tuong was escorted by police officers to the Thanh Tri Bridge in Hanoi, where he thrown the body of Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen into the Hong (Red) River on October 19  (Photo: Tuoi Tre) Inhuman act The minister said she cannot imagine that a doctor like Tuong could take such a heartless action. “This doctor has violated the Hippocratic oaths, operated his salon illegally, offered unlicensed medical services, infringed on professional regulations, all of which led to the heartbreaking death of the woman.” Dr. Tuong’s act of dumping the victim’s body into the river to cover up his wrongdoings is totally inhuman, the minister said, adding that she is very indignant over Tuong’s unacceptable act. “Tuong has seriously violated medical professional ethics as a doctor. He also violated basic ethical principles as a human being,” Minister Tien said.   The minister expressed regret at the victim, who lost her life just wanting to be more beautiful. “I want to send my deep condolences to the victim’s family over the woman’s death.” She also blamed the death partly on loose management and control of concerned agencies over health facilities, especially private ones. Regarding how Dr. Tuong will be punished, the minister said the health sector’s view is that any wrongdoers will be handled in accordance to applicable laws. Cat Tuong Beauty Salon, at 45 Giai Phong Street, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi, where 37-year-old Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen died on October 19, 2013  (Photo: Tuoi Tre) Tighten control After the incident, the ministry has asked all local health departments to tighten control over all beauty salons nationwide. Minister Tien said. In reality, since late 2012, the ministry has issued many documents to order inspections of both State- and privately-owned health facilities. The ministry has asked Bach Mai Hospital, where Dr Tuong had worked before he was suspended following Huyen’s death, and the E Hospital to coordinate with police and facilitate their work in investigating the case. The ministry also reported the case to the Government and the National Assembly’s Office, the minister said. On October 23, the ministry told chairpersons of People’s Committees of all provinces and cities to direct local health departments and relevant agencies to conduct comprehensive inspections at all health facilities that provide beauty services including cosmetic and plastic surgeries. TUOITRENEWS