Dequan later graduated from the Methodist Women's College and worked as a pastor's assistant at a Congregational church.

During the Second Sino-Japanese War, she organized the "War-time Children Fostering Commission" and served as vice chairman.

In January 1948, she was elected central executive member of Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang.

[citation needed] She was elected to serve on the Executive Council of the Women's International Democratic Federation in 1948,[6] and re-elected in 1953.

[7] After the formation of the People's Republic of China, Li was appointed the first Minister of Health of the PRC central government and she supported legalization of abortion.