Investigation launched after abnormal death of infant in Hefei

Authorities in Hefei, Anhui province, have launched an investigation into the death of a newborn who died while being treated for jaundice, according to an official statement from the city's health commission released on Wednesday morning.

The commission has set up a special investigation team after media reports drew public attention to the case, according to its statement. Personnel involved have been suspended pending the outcome of the inquiry, while medical records and surveillance footage have been sealed. The city's medical association has also accepted an application for a medical accident appraisal.

In the statement, the health commission expressed condolences to the family of the infant and said the investigation would be conducted in accordance with the law and on the basis of objectivity and fairness.

Further information will be released as it becomes available.

According to previous media reports, the child, aged 27 days, died on Nov 24 while receiving treatment at the Anhui Women and Children's Medical Center in Hefei.

On Tuesday, the child's father, surnamed Chen, told reporters at Dahe.cn, a news portal based in Henan province, that the family received a critical condition notice from the hospital on the evening of Nov 22, stating that the infant had suffered sudden pulmonary haemorrhage and was undergoing emergency treatment. The child was later pronounced dead.

With assistance from local police, the family reviewed surveillance footage on Nov 26. Chen said the video appeared to show a nurse feeding the baby and leaving him lying on his side before exiting the ward. He alleged that the infant later turned face down and became still after struggling for over 10 minutes. The nurse discovered him and began resuscitation efforts after about half an hour, according to Dahe.cn.