NANJING - A couple who are both government officials have been detained or sacked for beating a nurse in East China's Jiangsu Province, the Nanjing public security bureau said on Thursday.

The nurse who works for Nanjing Stomatological Hospital was attacked during a medical dispute on February 24. She has been diagnosed with paralysis of the lower limbs after a week of treatment.

The incident followed the hospital arranging for a critically ill male patient to be placed in the same ward where the couple's daughter was being treated. After the couple unsuccessfully protested about the move to the hospital, Yuan Yaping, the mother, struck a nurse on the back and shoulder with an umbrella and dragged her out of the nurse station.

In the meantime, Dong Anqing, Yuan's husband, pushed and shoved other medical workers who were gathering to attempt to stop the violence.

Yuan, 53, deputy curator of the provincial technology and science museum, has been detained by police. Dong, also 53, publicity department head of the provincial people's procuratorate, has been dismissed from his post.