BEIJING (SCMP): A mother in central China accidentally caused a cerebral haemorrhage in her toddler son during an altercation with her mother-in-law, later attempting to abandon the sick child, which sparked significant controversy on mainland social media.
The incident took place in May 2021 when the woman, surnamed Xu, from Shangcheng county in Xinyang, Henan province, became embroiled in a brawl with her mother-in-law, whose name and age remain undisclosed, over family matters.
During the altercation, Xu accidentally dropped her two-month-old son onto the floor, resulting in a traumatic intracranial haemorrhage, according to the Xiaoxiang Morning Herald.
The confrontation also led to her mother-in-law sustaining a dislocated right shoulder, classified as a second-degree minor injury by legal standards.
After the conflict, Xu moved with her elder son and the injured younger son to Nantong, Jiangsu province in southeastern China, in search of better employment opportunities.
However, overwhelmed by severe financial difficulties, Xu ultimately chose to abandon her sick child.
On Sept 22, 2022, she left the boy in a tricycle, where he was discovered the following morning by passers-by who immediately contacted the police.
On Nov 13 this year, the Shangcheng County People’s Court found Xu guilty of intentional injury and abandonment, sentencing her to one year in prison, suspended for one and a half years.
Song Junyan, a lawyer from Beijing, explained that Xu’s actions during the dispute, which resulted in her mother-in-law’s dislocated shoulder, met the criteria for intentional injury.
Furthermore, leaving her sick child in an isolated environment, without regard for his survival, constituted abandonment.
Details about the child’s current health condition and follow-up treatment for the cerebral haemorrhage remain undisclosed.
The incident has ignited heated discussions among Chinese netizens, with public opinion divided.
Some condemned Xu’s actions as cruel, with one commenter stating: “Even a tiger does not harm its cubs; she is worse than a tiger.”
However, many expressed sympathy for the mother and questioned the father’s accountability.
One person commented: “This woman must have suffered greatly. She initially took both children with her for work instead of leaving them with the father, which shows she was a good mother, but perhaps the struggle became too overwhelming.”
Another added: “From beginning to end, there’s no mention of the child’s father. The mother had to care for two children, one of whom was ill while working far from home. Was the father deceased or simply absent?”
A third remarked: “Whenever there’s tension between a wife and a mother-in-law, it’s often because the son fails to mediate. If the husband had stepped up, things wouldn’t have escalated to this point.” - South China Morning Post
