Model Cai Yuxin dies after controversial 'milk injection' insomnia treatment

Cai, who was in her 30s and had over 32,000 Facebook followers, visited the Fairy Clinic in Taipei on May 25 for the so-called "milk injection" therapy following a friend's recommendation. The injection was administered directly by the clinic's director, prominent aesthetic physician Wu Shaohu, according to the South China Morning Post.

"Milk injection" refers to the intravenous use of propofol, a powerful anesthetic drug commonly employed in medical settings for sedation and anesthesia. The nickname stems from the medication's milky-white appearance. Under medical regulations, propofol should only be administered by specialized doctors and strictly supervised.

After giving the injection, Wu reportedly left Cai in the care of an unlicensed male assistant. An error in the setup of infusion equipment led to an abnormal increase in the rate at which propofol was delivered. This caused Cai to experience a sudden circulatory shock, followed by cardiac and respiratory arrest, SCMP reported.

Cai Yuxin in a photo posted on her Facebook's page.

The assistant urgently contacted Wu, who provided CPR instructions via video call before returning to the clinic. However, resuscitation efforts failed.

Cai was rushed to a hospital emergency room, where she remained comatose until June 12, when her family decided to withdraw life support, United Daily News reported.

On the day of the incident, Taipei City police officers collected evidence at the clinic. Authorities suspect Wu violated Taiwan's Physician Act, resulting in a fine of NT$250,000 (US$8,400).

The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office is now investigating the case on suspicion of violating the Medical Practitioners Act and manslaughter.

An autopsy will be performed to clarify the exact cause of Cai's death.