Society

Police investigate death of baby girl

By Chen Hong (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-12-16 08:11

DONGGUAN: Police in Houjie town of this southern manufacturing city are investigating the abnormal death of an abandoned 1-month-old girl.

She was found dead in front of an vacant flat on Tianxin street about 7:30 am on Monday, wrapped up in a thin blanket and covered by a piece of a deep green factory uniform, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported.

"The preliminary examination found that she died from disease, but has no obvious connection with the H1N1 virus.

"The legal medical experts are still examining the body to further verify the cause of death," said an official, surnamed Wang, with the police bureau of Houjie town.

He said Shaxi police station, which is in charge of the area where the baby died, has carried out an investigation to find the parents.

Witnesses said bloodstains could be seen over much of the baby's body.

Nobody saw who put the baby down during the bustling Monday morning.

"My husband did not spot the baby at 6:40 am when he left for work," said a woman who runs a supermarket on the city's street.

"But less than one hour later she was found."

Most of the residents who rent the apartments on the street are migrant laborers working in the factories of the surrounding area, according to the report.

A woman said the baby was not from this community. "We know each other well and I can't remember such a little baby," she said.

While showing great sympathy for the perishing of such new life, people expressed indignation against the irresponsible parents through online forums and called on the government to establish a salvation system for children who are seriously sick.

This is the second dead child found in the province within a week.

Last Wednesday, a 3-year-old boy was found dead and abandoned in a dry ditch in Guangzhou.

He had earlier been treated for serious complications from H1N1 flu but was discharged from the hospital at repeated requests from his family members.

Xiong Yuanda, spokesman for the health bureau of Guangzhou, said last week that his parents may have insisted on having him discharged for financial reasons.

The boy's four days at the children's hospital reportedly cost more than 19,000 yuan ($2,800) and the family had only paid 13,600 yuan when they left.

The hospital carried out its duty, but more efforts are needed from the whole of society to help financially disadvantaged patients, especially those from outside the city, Xiong said.

The city government of Guangzhou set aside some funds days ago for hospitals to assist needy patients from outside the city, but the maximum help for a patient is 7,000 yuan, he said.