Infant's death sparks controversy, probe in E China

Police and health authorities in east China's Quanzhou City have started to investigate an infant's death in a hospital incubator after the infant's family and the hospital held different counts over the cause.

Photos suggesting skin on the child's back was scorched went viral online on Thursday after the 11-day-old baby girl died in Quanzhou Children's Hospital, and sparked a public fury.

The hospital said in the infant's death verification that the baby died of bacterial infection.

However, Zheng Yuying, grandma of the infant, said that there were obvious "burns" on the baby's back, buttocks and legs, and the family suspected that she died of scorching in the hospital's incubator.

According to Zheng's account, the baby was sent into the hospital's intensive care unit immediately after being born on July 6. Doctors said she suffered neonatal brain hypoxiaischemia and cardiac damage.

The family was informed by the hospital of the baby's recovery on July 14. On Tuesday, they was assured by the hospital that the baby could be discharged on Wednesday. However, at around 8 a.m. on Wednesday, the hospital called the baby's parents and informed them of the baby's death.

Police and investigators including discipline inspection officials have entered the hospital to probe the death.

The tragedy has triggered off the public distrust of the hospital. Some parents of new-born babies in the hospital have asked for transfers to other hospitals for continued medical treatment.