Hospital in focus as unwanted baby sold
By Wang Qingchu |
May 5, 2011, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A HOSPITAL in an eastern China city was reported to have sold a baby who survived an abortion surgery, claiming it had given the baby up for adoption out of "humanitarian consideration."
Tongji Maternity Hospital in Xuyi County, Jiangsu Province, did the abortion illegally for a teenage girl. The girl received 5,000 yuan (US$770) "nutrition fee" from the family which adopted the baby and the hospital claimed it didn't charge any money. The police still can't decide whether it's a case of human trafficking or an adoption, the local Modern Express newspaper reported yesterday.
Police launched a probe after a whistleblower disclosed doctors had sold the baby. The informer said she used to work in the hospital.
The ethnic minority girl had the abortion when she was around eight months pregnant in April. However, the baby magically survived the surgery. The teenaged girl who is unmarried was unable to raise the child and decided to give it away, the report said.
Police have detained two doctors for questioning. A doctor surnamed Min who took part in the surgery said the baby survived the procedure and was adopted. Min claimed the adoption was agreed by the girl and she received 5,000 yuan. Min said doctors didn't charge any money for the adoption and denied it was human trafficking, police said.
Foster parents
"We didn't want to see the baby abandoned or die. Since the girl was not capable of raising the child, we helped find foster parents out of human consideration," said Wu Jianzhong, director of the hospital.
Under Chinese law, women who are more than 28 weeks pregnant should obtain a certificate from the local family planning authority before opting for abortion. The hospital conducted the surgery without proper authorization.
Wu admitted there were loopholes in the hospital's management and pledged to tighten up supervision. The local health authority has launched an investigation into the hospital's illegal practice.
Chen Hua, a lawyer of Dacheng Law Firm, said the adoption in this case didn't follow standard protocol. Adoptions should be registered with the local civil affairs department under Chinese law, Chen added.
Police said they are still investigating the case.
Tongji Maternity Hospital in Xuyi County, Jiangsu Province, did the abortion illegally for a teenage girl. The girl received 5,000 yuan (US$770) "nutrition fee" from the family which adopted the baby and the hospital claimed it didn't charge any money. The police still can't decide whether it's a case of human trafficking or an adoption, the local Modern Express newspaper reported yesterday.
Police launched a probe after a whistleblower disclosed doctors had sold the baby. The informer said she used to work in the hospital.
The ethnic minority girl had the abortion when she was around eight months pregnant in April. However, the baby magically survived the surgery. The teenaged girl who is unmarried was unable to raise the child and decided to give it away, the report said.
Police have detained two doctors for questioning. A doctor surnamed Min who took part in the surgery said the baby survived the procedure and was adopted. Min claimed the adoption was agreed by the girl and she received 5,000 yuan. Min said doctors didn't charge any money for the adoption and denied it was human trafficking, police said.
Foster parents
"We didn't want to see the baby abandoned or die. Since the girl was not capable of raising the child, we helped find foster parents out of human consideration," said Wu Jianzhong, director of the hospital.
Under Chinese law, women who are more than 28 weeks pregnant should obtain a certificate from the local family planning authority before opting for abortion. The hospital conducted the surgery without proper authorization.
Wu admitted there were loopholes in the hospital's management and pledged to tighten up supervision. The local health authority has launched an investigation into the hospital's illegal practice.
Chen Hua, a lawyer of Dacheng Law Firm, said the adoption in this case didn't follow standard protocol. Adoptions should be registered with the local civil affairs department under Chinese law, Chen added.
Police said they are still investigating the case.
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