A distressing medical incident at a county hospital in Jiangsu province has ignited public outrage and prompted a system-wide safety review after a newborn’s finger was accidentally severed during a routine procedure.
The unfortunate event occurred at the People’s Hospital of Xuyi County in Huai’an on December 25, when a midwife’s critical error during an umbilical cord cutting procedure partially severed the left middle finger of a newborn boy delivered via cesarean section. The infant, born to mother Zhang, immediately required specialized medical attention due to the severity of the injury.
According to the infant’s father, Mr. Sheng, the baby’s small size compounded the surgical challenges. After two hospital transfers, the child finally received specialized reattachment surgery at a medical facility in Wuxi. The delicate procedure involved fixing the severed digit with a steel pin, causing significant discomfort to the newborn who has been crying frequently throughout recovery.
The Xuyi County Health Commission addressed the incident in an official statement Monday evening, confirming the hospital’s immediate response following the accident. Medical staff promptly arranged transfers to facilities capable of performing the complex microsurgery, with the operation completed the same afternoon.
By December 31, the infant had been discharged from medical care and entered the recovery phase. The hospital administration has repeatedly apologized to the family and committed to covering all treatment and rehabilitation expenses. The responsible midwife has been suspended pending further investigation.
The commission acknowledged significant deficiencies in the hospital’s safety protocols and announced that all personnel involved would face appropriate accountability measures. A comprehensive medical safety inspection will be implemented across all county healthcare facilities to prevent similar incidents.
This case has triggered broader concerns about medical safety standards in maternal and neonatal care, highlighting the need for enhanced training and supervision in delivery room procedures.