Troublemaking in hospitals: performed violence against the healthcare professions in China

Yi Naodescribes a type of violence displayed in Chinese hospitals which involves organised disturbances led by patients' relatives and/orYi Naogangs. Drawing on media reports ofYi Nao,we argue that the phenomenon ofYi Naotransforms hospitals into 'power arenas' in which a struggle over moral and political resources (capital) takes place between patients,Yi Naogangs, doctors, government agencies, and hospital management. Two interrelated rules that are crucial to understanding thead hoclocal strategies of the actors involved inYi Naoare examined: the 'publicity rule', and the 'rule of risk-avoidance'. We also argue that the political discourse of 'stability' has been internalised by the officials in the Chinese government and public hospitals in mediating social disputes. At the same time,Yi Naoactors use this discourse to creatively adapt to social resistance, as reflected in the disposition to use performative disturbance in pursuit of material or symbolic compensation.