China's health bureau has meted out penalties to about a dozen operating room doctors in the city of Xi'an in Shaanxi Province after they took group selfies next to an unconscious surgery patient, which surfaced in China's social media sites.

Health authorities fired three of the doctors shown in the pictures from their administrative positions and issued administrative warning to others.

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Chinese netizens were angered over the professional conduct of the physicians in the group selfies, which were widely seen on China's popular social media apps, WeChat and Sina Weibo.

In the group selfies, doctors were smiling and striking a pose next to an unconscious patient on the operating table.

A health bureau investigation showed the photos were taken on August 15 this year in an old surgery room of Xi'an's Fengcheng Hospital. The bureau has also handed down penalties and fines against hospital directors.

The doctors reportedly took the selfies as a memento of the last surgery in the old operating room.

On Sina Weibo, a user who is a certified surgeon in Zhejiang Province, said the surgery has been completed judging from the pictures. He pointed out that the surgeon's two aides were making finishing touches on the skin.

He added taking selfies to keep the memory is understandable but from a professional point of view, it was inappropriate for several of the surgeons to have their gauze masks off and to let the patient be exposed in the pictures. 

Doctors and nurses, who were wearing green coats and blue masks, are shown in the selfies in jolly poses next to unconscious patients. Some had their arms on their waist. One of them holds his fingers aloft in a V-sign.

Health authorities also ordered hospital administrators to apologize to the public and to carry out reforms. All others in the selfies were told to hand in "self-reflection" reports and had their extra pay cut.