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NYC pain clinic burned client during ancient Chinese ‘mugwort’ treatment: suit
Young Ma has sued Dodam Acupuncture and Pain Clinic in Flushing, alleging staff caused severe, painful burns during a moxibustion treatment in July. The case highlights the risks of a traditional pain-relief practice when treatment is allegedly performed negligently.
Moxibustion uses burning dried mugwort, or moxa, on or near acupuncture points to stimulate blood flow. It can be applied directly to the skin or indirectly; indirect application is more common in the United States because it is considered safer. The lawsuit, filed in Queens Supreme Court on 9 November, seeks unspecified damages, and the clinic and Ma’s lawyer declined to comment.
In short
- A Queens woman alleges a clinic burned her during moxibustion.
- Her lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
- Indirect moxa application is more common in the US.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Moxibustion is a traditional treatment that some patients choose for pain relief, and indirect methods are commonly used in the United States because they are considered safer. The lawsuit alleges negligent treatment, but the clinic has not commented and the claim has not been established in court; the case alone does not show that the practice itself is inherently unsafe.
The case against
Burning moxa on or near the body carries a risk of injury, and a clinic offering the treatment has a duty to take appropriate precautions and perform it competently. Ma’s suit alleges that the treatment caused severe burns, underscoring the potential for serious harm if safeguards fail and the importance of scrutiny and accountability when patients are injured.
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