Paralysed Woman Falls for Fake Surgeon on Social Media, Gets Abandoned After Giving Birth

During her rehabilitation, a paralysed woman from China fell in love with a man who claimed to be a surgeon.

The man disappeared with a three million yuan (~SGD$567,000) loan, leaving her to raise their child alone.

Paralysed Woman Meets Fake Surgeon on Social Media During Recovery

Li Shangxuan, 31, from Hebei province in northern China, was paralysed from the waist down following a car accident in 2013. She has used a wheelchair ever since.

Li’s family was once well-off, with her parents working in business. Despite extensive rehabilitation efforts, she remains unable to walk and requires wheelchair assistance for mobility.

During her recovery period, Li met a man surnamed Ding on social media who claimed to be a surgeon. Ding told her he had studied medicine and previously interned at a hospital.

The man pursued Li intensely through their online interactions. They quickly developed a romantic relationship that led to marriage.

When Li became pregnant, Ding promised her access to better medical care, claiming he had left his hospital position to start his own business.

Li and her parents believed Ding was dependable and caring based on his medical background claims. “When he proposed, he made me feel special. I thought my life was finally turning around,” Li said.

Fake Doctor Disappears After Forcing Pregnant Wife into Massive Debt

Two months into their marriage, police detained Ding over an alleged rape charge. He secured his release by borrowing money from Li.

During Li’s late pregnancy, Ding repeatedly demanded money from her, claiming the funds were needed for his business operations. When Li refused his requests, he would force her to leave their home.

Ding pressured Li into taking out a three million yuan loan. He frequently pushed and insulted her while she was pregnant.

The couple divorced the day after their baby was born. Ding relinquished custody of the child immediately after the divorce proceedings.

“I realised my child and I were just pawns to him,” Li said about the relationship.

Ding disappeared shortly after their divorce and cut off all contact with Li and their son.

Li now shares her life as a single mother with 220,000 followers on a popular short video platform. She supports herself and her son through live-streaming and selling food and household items.

Although Li can now stand, she remains unable to walk and continues using a wheelchair for daily activities.

Woman Discovers Ex-Husband’s Medical Credentials Were Completely Fabricated

Li later discovered that Ding had been dismissed from his hospital internship due to sexual harassment allegations. He had settled the harassment matter by paying money to resolve the issue.

“He never had a medical licence and did not even graduate from university,” Li revealed about her ex-husband’s false credentials.

Li also found out that Ding’s business venture was completely fabricated. He was actually more than three million yuan in debt.

On 22 May, Li went public with her story on social media platforms.

Li has filed a lawsuit against Ding to recover the loan money. The trial is scheduled for June 2025.

Fu Jian, a lawyer from Henan Zejin Law Firm, told the Xiaoxiang Morning Post that Li could file fraud charges if Ding lied about the loan’s purpose. The lawyer suggested Li could demand full repayment with interest.

Fu also recommended that Li pursue legal action against Ding for domestic violence and child abandonment.

Li urged other women with similar experiences to speak out about their situations. “There is no such thing as a perfect person. Be cautious of pretence in relationships,” she said.

“If you have been through something like this, do not be afraid. Stand up for yourself and your child.”

Li’s story has gone viral on mainland social media platforms. Related posts have achieved more than 35 million views across various Chinese social networks.