Wine part of liver treatment

A LOCAL hospital yesterday was told to compensate a man who was given a glass of wine a day as part of treatment for his alcohol-damaged liver.

The patient, Le Changjiu, claimed the daily 200-milliliter ration of rice wine - a Chinese alcoholic drink brewed from rice - worsened his cirrhosis of the liver.

The hospital, which was not named, was ordered by Jing'an District People's Court to compensate Le almost 100,000 yuan (US$15,450).

Le, in his late 40s, was hospitalized on July 28, 2008, and diagnosed with alcoholic hepatitis and alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

Wine was included in the treatment to wean Le off alcohol. Le's liver deteriorated further.

The court ruled the hospital was partly responsible.