bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Laurie Chen

A heavily pregnant woman is reported to have committed suicide after her family repeatedly refused to let her have a caesarean section.
The 26-year-old woman, surnamed Ma, was admitted to the maternity ward of Yulin No 1 Hospital in Shaanxi Province, northern China, last Wednesday, China Business News reported in Tuesday.
The report shocked and angered many online commentators who called for women to be given greater reproductive rights.
“Initial diagnosis found that Ma was over 41 weeks pregnant with her first child,” said a statement issued by the hospital.
“The large fetal head circumference meant that vaginal delivery would have been very risky.”
Rate of caesarean births in China on par with rate in US, and lower than previously reported, new study shows
Doctors had suggested that delivery by caesarean section would be safer for Ma following the examination, but her family insisted on a natural birth.
Under Chinese law family members have to give permission before medical staff carry out surgery.
Hospital records state that at 5.50pm last Thursday, staff told the family of the requirements for a caesarean delivery.

The family, whose precise relationship to the woman was not disclosed, understood and refused surgery, preferring to continue monitoring the situation.
“The pregnant woman twice walked out of the ward to tell her family that she wanted a caesarean because she could no longer bear the pain, but the family continued to insist on a natural delivery,” according to the records.
It was not explained why they denied her request.
How a ban is forcing China’s single women to put their fertility on ice overseas
Staff managed to persuade her to return to the ward and again tried to convince the family to let her have a C-section, but they still refused.
Ma fell from a fifth floor window in the hospital’s maternity ward about 8pm. Doctors could not save her life.
The fetus was also killed.
Police told reporters that after investigating the incident, they believed it was a suicide.
The China Business News report attracted more than 18,000 comments on Weibo.
Many people voiced their shock and anger over the tragedy, and called for greater reproductive rights for women.
“Besides from the pregnant woman, nobody else should have had a say,” said a top-rated comment with more than 18,000 likes.
“A married woman isn’t a tool for producing babies, how can people still be so ignorant these days!” said another user.


China wife of gay husband contests estate against his lover and parents after man’s death

Pursuit of hoppiness: why China’s cash-conscious drinkers have embraced craft beers

Why Chinese women like me are done being quiet and ‘appropriate’

Elite success stories are cold comfort for disillusioned young workers

China society

Pregnant Chinese woman ‘commits suicide’ after family refuse to allow her to have a caesarean section

The woman fell from a fifth floor window after relatives refused to sign off on the procedure. Photo: Handout

=== NO ARCHIVE IMAGE === ATN. PREGNANT05. A woman committed suicide when delivering child. UNDATED HANDOUT

News

China

People & Culture

Fatal fall prompts renewed call for women to be given more rights after relatives overrule her wishes and ignore advice from medical staff
