Court case highlights extent of child trafficking in China

China has been gripped by the sensational trial of an obstetrician charged with trafficking infants and selling them in many provinces. The case of Zhang Shuxia, from the Fuping county Maternity and Child Health Care hospital, was heard Monday by the Weinan Intermediate People's Court in Northwest China's Shaanxi province.

At Monday's court hearing, Dr. Zhang Shuxia pleaded guilty to duping seven parents into believing their newborn babies had died and then selling the healthy infants to child traffickers. Zhang was director of the local maternity and children's hospital in Shaanxi's Fuping county, when she was arrested in August after new parents discovered her deceit. The doctor had told them their child had inherited a fatal disease from the mother and their baby would soon die. A check-up at another hospital show mother had no such disease. Local police found the baby in a neighboring province and the couple was reunited with their son last August. Zhang, who could be sentenced to death, pleaded for forgiveness at her trail.

Police say they located and returned six of the infants sold by Zhang to their rightful parents. One of the infants died after Zhang sold it to traffickers. The court has not yet passed judgement. The case has made headlines across the country and has raised a lot of public concern.

"As a doctor, she should help new mothers, but she stole their children and sold them. It makes us very angry." Shaanxi resident Huang Huijuan said.

"People are supposed to be able to trust their physician and hospitals. How can people ever again feel secure with their doctor and hospital?" Gansu resident Xing Yongjie said.

While this notorious case -- involving the doctor who assisted in the birth of the infants -- has shocked the country, dozens of child trafficking cases are reported around the country every year. People who purchase children are not charged with a crime if they haven't abused the child and assist police in the child's return to their rightful parents. While the law is designed to help police investigations many people say that letting buyers go free generates a huge demand for stolen infants, especially baby boys.

"Many couples should change their traditional ideas which favor boys than girls. Both of them are our children. And not only the traffickers, but also the illegal buyers should be seriously punished." Guo Xingquan with Shaanxi Academy of Social Sciences, said.