2016年CRI Baidu Blacks out Commercial Cooperation on Online Medical Platforms

 

The IT giant announced on Tuesday that it will end cooperation with commercial groups over management of the medical platforms. 

Baidu also said that only non-profit and commonwealth¹ organizations will have administrative² access to its online forums⁴.

The latest scandal follows word from a user, with the screen name of "Ma Yi Cai", that Baidu sold the management rights of an online hemophilia forum³ to an unlicensed private hospital.

"Ma Yi Ca,", also one of the former administrators⁶ of the forum, said the hospital used the platform for self-promotion and deleted comments that challenged its credentials⁷.

"The new administrator⁵ takes a series of actions. At first, he canceled our management rights, and then deleted a large number of posts and articles in the forum."

"Ma Yi Cai" uploaded a string of screenshots as evidence. The post quickly went viral, drawing thousands of clicks and comments.

The hemophilia forum is one of several disease-related forums under Baidu Tieba, a popular bulletin board consisting of 19 million sub-forums, covering a variety of topics.

The disease-themed forums often function as online support groups where patients exchange information on treatment while cheering each other up.

Moreover, Baidu admitted that previous administrators of some disease-related online forums took advantage of their rights to release commercial advertisements in the platform and seek personal interests.

Wang Jian, a current affairs commentator⁸, says Baidu should be cautious about pursuing profits when things are related to people's health and economic security.

"It seems like a win-win cooperation for both Baidu and medical groups in Baidu Tieba's forum. However, medical scalpers will definitely make advertisements on the platform to attract patients after they pay a lot to gain the management rights. And it will lead to problems relating to patients' health like medicines not symptomatic and a delay for optimal⁹ treatment. "

Cong Lixian, law professor with Beijing Foreign Studies University, said it is more important to discuss whether Baidu should assume liability for users' losses brought about by the fake hospitals and doctors.

The crisis forced Baidu to stop cashing in on its disease-themed platforms. 

At present, Baidu has replaced the administrator of the hemophilia online forum with a non-profit organization called "the Hemophilia Home of China."

Forums on Epilepsy, Parkinson's Disease, and others are still reportedly run by medical groups.

For CRI, this is Niu Honglin.

1 commonwealth   

n.共和国，联邦，共同体

参考例句：

• He is the chairman of the commonwealth of artists.他是艺术家协会的主席。
• Most of the members of the Commonwealth are nonwhite.英联邦的许多成员国不是白人国家。

2 administrative   

adj.行政的，管理的

参考例句：

• The administrative burden must be lifted from local government.必须解除地方政府的行政负担。
• He regarded all these administrative details as beneath his notice.他认为行政管理上的这些琐事都不值一顾。

3 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

4 forums   

讨论会； 座谈会； 广播专题讲话节目； 集会的公共场所( forum的名词复数 )； 论坛，讨论会，专题讨论节目； 法庭

参考例句：

• A few of the forums were being closely monitored by the administrators. 有些论坛被管理员严密监控。
• It can cast a dark cloud over these forums. 它将是的论坛上空布满乌云。

5 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

6 administrators   

n.管理者( administrator的名词复数 )；有管理（或行政）才能的人；（由遗嘱检验法庭指定的）遗产管理人；奉派暂管主教教区的牧师

参考例句：

• He had administrators under him but took the crucial decisions himself. 他手下有管理人员，但重要的决策仍由他自己来做。 来自辞典例句
• Administrators have their own methods of social intercourse. 办行政的人有他们的社交方式。 来自汉英文学 - 围城

7 credentials   

n.证明，资格，证明书，证件

参考例句：

• He has long credentials of diplomatic service.他的外交工作资历很深。
• Both candidates for the job have excellent credentials.此项工作的两个求职者都非常符合资格。

8 commentator   

n.注释者，解说者；实况广播评论员

参考例句：

• He is a good commentator because he can get across the game.他能简单地解说这场比赛，是个好的解说者。
• The commentator made a big mistake during the live broadcast.在直播节目中评论员犯了个大错误。

9 optimal   

adj.最适宜的；最理想的；最令人满意的

参考例句：

• What is the optimal mix of private and public property rights in natural resources?私人和国家的自然资源产权的最适宜的组合是什么？
• Optimal path planning is a key link for the sailing contest.帆船最优行驶路径规划是帆船比赛取胜的关键环节。