Slain intern's parents seek compensation

The parents of Wang Hao, an intern at the No 1 Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University who was killed by a patient in March, are asking for 864,400 yuan ($135,000) in compensation from the defendant.

On Wednesday morning, the Harbin Intermediate People's Court in Heilongjiang province heard the case of an 18-year-old suspected of stabbing Wang to death and injuring three doctors at the hospital on March 23.

The local procuratorate, or prosecuting office, accused Li Mengnan of intentional homicide.

The court did not reach a verdict on Wednesday.

Li Mengnan (center), who is suspected of killing an intern and injuring three doctors at the No 1 Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, appears at his hearing at Harbin Intermediate People's Court in Heilongjiang province on Wednesday. Wang Jianwei / Xinhua

Li traveled from his home in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region to the hospital for treatment for his inflammation in his vertebrae on March 23. His grandfather accompanied him during the trip.

The doctor in the rheumatology department of the hospital told Li that Remicade, the medicine to treat the inflammation, would worsen his tuberculosis, and said Li should be treated for tuberculosis before taking the medication.

Li went back to the hospital that afternoon with a knife, and attacked Wang and his three colleagues, according to authorities.

The 28-year-old intern died after being stabbed in the neck. The forensic examination showed that Wang's jugular vein was severed and he bled to death.

The prosecutors have said Li should be punished lightly because he was under 18 when he did the attack.

Under Criminal Law, people older than 14 and under 18 should receive lighter punishments if they are convicted of a crime.

Li Fangping, a lawyer from a Beijing law firm, who defended Li Mengnan for free, said he hopes the court would consider the reason for his client's action.

According to a written statement provided by Li Fangping, Li Mengnan had been to the hospital several times to treat his inflammation and had once received Remicade injections, but these were stopped because of his tuberculosis.

"The hospital didn't tell Li that Remicade would have serious side effects when they gave him the injections, and thus worsened his tuberculosis," said Li Fangping. "On March 23, Li went to the hospital for the sixth time. The behavior of doctors caused him to become irritated, and that is why he killed and injured people."

Chen Zhihua, lawyer for Wang's parents, disputed Li's argument.

"This case is not about medical disputes. The hospital did nothing wrong," said Chen. "The defendant hasn't provided any valid evidence to prove the hospital's liability. What's more, whether the hospital did anything wrong should not be a factor in the criminal trial."

Chen said two other doctors wounded in the attack, Wang Yu and Zheng Yining, also sued Li.

Li stabbed Wang Yu through the right eye socket, causing serious injury. Zheng Yining's face, right ear and right arm were injured.

The total compensation claims reached more than 1.31 million yuan, according to dbw.cn, a Heilongjiang-based news portal.

Li Fangping said he was very sorry for Wang's parents and other victims, but Li Mengnan's family is financially challenged. "His father is serving a prison sentence, his mother left the family when he was 10 months old. He was raised by his grandfather. They don't have any savings and owe nearly 70,000 yuan in medical bills for his grandfather's cancer."

Chen said the court is expected to reach a verdict in two weeks.

Contact the writers at wangqingyun@chinadaily.com.cn and zhouhuiying@chinadaily.com.cn