A surgeon, who was captured in a now-viral video punching an 82-year-old woman on the head while operating on her eyes, has been fired.

The incident happened in 2019 but started trending on the internet in China this week and has sparked outrage among the public, the BBC reported. In the video, the surgeon was seen punching the head of the patient thrice.

The CCTV footage of the surgery procedure was shared by popular Chinese doctor, Ai Fen, contributing to the virality of the incident.

Aier China, the parent group of the hospital where the incident happened, on Monday, dismissed the surgeon and the CEO of the hospital, stating the surgeon “treated the patient roughly in an emergency situation”.

The hospital where the incident occurred is located in Guigang, a southwestern Chinese city.

According to the BBC, the patient could not respond to the surgeon’s warnings in Mandarin as she only speaks the local language. Local authorities say the patient sustained bruises on her forehead.

The management of the hospital paid the woman 500 yuan ($70) as compensation. The patient’s son, who spoke to local media, said his mother is now blind in her left eye, but it is unclear whether it is as a result of the punching incident.