Newborn's Finger Severed in Umbilical Cord Cutting Mishap at Chinese Hospital
A newborn baby boy faced a terrifying health scare moments after his birth on Christmas morning. A midwife at Xuyi County People's Hospital in Jiangsu province, eastern China, accidentally severed the infant's left middle finger while cutting the umbilical cord during a caesarean delivery.
Emergency Transfers and Surgical Intervention
The father learned about the incident two hours after the birth. Medical staff immediately arranged for emergency transfers. The newborn was first rushed to another facility, then transported to Wuxi No 9 People's Hospital nearly 300 kilometers away.
Surgeons at Wuxi performed a finger implantation operation the same day. They discovered the baby's tendon was completely severed. However, doctors explained the infant was too young for nerve reconnection procedures.
Hospital Admits Serious Error
Xuyi County's Health Commission released a statement on January 5 acknowledging the incident. Officials called it a "serious error" by the midwife that resulted in the infant's finger being "partly cut off."
The nurse involved stated the accident occurred when the newborn suddenly moved his fingers during the cord cutting procedure. Hospital authorities suspended the nurse for negligence and accepted full responsibility for the baby's future treatment.
Family's Concerns and Compensation
The baby's father, identified as Sheng, described his son's overwhelming pain following the surgery. He noted doctors implanted a steel needle inside the infant's finger during the procedure, causing continued suffering.
"To this day, the hospital still hasn't clearly explained what exactly happened in the delivery room," Sheng told South China Morning Post. "We don't know why such a simple procedure as cutting the umbilical cord could result in my baby's finger being cut off."
Xuyi Hospital initially offered the family a one-time cash compensation of CNY 100,000 (approximately ₹12.95 lakh). Sheng expressed concerns this amount would be insufficient for future treatment and rehabilitation costs.
Recovery and Resolution
By January 6, Sheng reported some improvement in his son's condition. "My baby's finger is not swollen any longer," he said. "We will watch closely how his condition develops."
The hospital transferred the child back to Xuyi for rehabilitation following the successful implantation surgery. Ultimately, both parties reached a compensation agreement, though specific details remain undisclosed.
This Christmas Day birth, which coincided with celebrations of Jesus Christ's birth, turned into a traumatic experience for the newborn and his family. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about medical safety protocols in delivery rooms.
