Girl in critical condition after visiting shaman
03-SEP-2008 Intellasia | Thanhniennews
Sep 3, 2008 - 7:00:00 AM
|
A girl from the southern province of Dong Nai has been in the hospital for a month after a shaman used unconventional techniques to cure her mental illness, according to the girl's mother.
Le Thi Minh Thao, 17, began visiting the local shaman in Cam My District three months ago.
She was rushed to a local hospital on July 18 after a visit to the shaman. Doctors said she had several burns on her arms and was not breathing on arrival due to water asphyxiation. The girl was wearing many amulets, doctors said.
Doctors caring for her said Thao could have died if she had been hospitalised only slightly later.
After a week at the hospital, Thao's respiratory problems had worsened and she was transferred to HCM City's Cho Ray Hospital, said her mother.
The girl has been in the hospital ever since.
Thao's mother Vu Thi Hiep said the girl had a background of mental illness and had unsuccessfully sought treatment at several places.
In May, Hiep brought Thao to a shaman named Xich in Cam My District's Xuan Dong Commune at the suggestion of a relative.
Xich treated Thao everyday by forcing water into her mouth and chanting to "exorcise" the girl's illness, Hiep said.
The water came from a "palace" located in Xich's house, said the mother.
Xich also waved incense in front of Thao during the treatment, but Hiep denied that Xich had used the incense to burn her daughter.
Asked whether Xich and her accomplices had tied up Thao and tried to drown her, Hiep said she just saw the group tie up Thao up once, but had not witnessed them attempt to asphyxiate her.
Hiep said many people had sought treatment at Xich's house but the shaman only admitted patients three days a month.
Xuan Dong Commune Police Chief Bui Hoang Lam said local authorities had not been informed about Thao's case.
He said that Xich, whose full name is Le Thi Xich, had been fined by the local government in July last year for "organising superstitious activities".
Early this month, the police in nearby Long An Province arrested and sought to press murder charge against another shaman and his accomplices for killing a woman they were ostensibly treating for mental illness.
Tra Chi Hien and his accomplices were accused of causing the death of Huynh Thi Lieu Thu, 32, following several days of beating her.
Initial examinations showed Thu had four broken ribs, bruises on the forehead and face, and multiple injuries on her body.
|
| |
|  |
|
Advertising
