Milk enters baby's lungs causing suffocation
Controversy grows over nanny's lack of 'expertise'
A shocking incident has come to light in China where a professional nanny hired by a couple accidentally suffocated their baby on her first day at work, causing outrage among local citizens. The Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) recently focused on this infant suffocation case that occurred in mainland China. The incident became known online through a video posted on local social networking services (SNS).
Earlier in April, a couple from Xi'an, Shanxi Province in central China, hired a professional nanny through a local domestic service company called 'Tianedaoji.' The nanny was to receive a monthly salary of 12,000 yuan (approximately 2.28 million KRW). Additionally, the nanny was supposed to provide specialized postpartum care for the mother who had recently given birth and the newborn.
According to data from the Chinese state media 'CCTV,' nannies in major Chinese cities generally earn around 12,800 yuan (approximately 2.43 million KRW) per month. Depending on experience, salaries can rise up to 20,000 yuan. In China, there is a custom where mothers rest for about 100 days after childbirth, during which nannies provide care for the newborn on their behalf.
The problem lies in the severe lack of professionalism of the nanny hired by this couple. The couple reportedly noticed the nanny’s lack of expertise from her very first day at work. Ultimately, the accident occurred in less than half a day. That evening, the father discovered that the baby was completely unresponsive while trying to feed the baby milk.
The baby was confirmed to have died from lung blockage caused by milk. [Image source=Captured from Chinese SNS Weibo]
Panic-stricken, the couple immediately took the baby to the hospital. After examining the infant, the doctor diagnosed that "the baby had already inhaled a significant amount of milk into the lungs" and said "it would be difficult to save the baby." A police autopsy confirmed that the cause of death was suffocation caused by milk blocking the lungs. The couple reported the incident to the police, but the police regarded the matter as a civil lawsuit and did not file any charges. The couple attempted to seek compensation from the company employing the nanny, but reportedly achieved no significant results. The company was insured for only 10-20% of the liability.
Local Chinese netizens expressed outrage upon learning of the incident. One netizen said, "As a mother who is eight months pregnant, reading this story is heartbreaking," adding, "I cannot even imagine how deeply shocked the mother must be." Another netizen raised their voice, saying, "Postpartum care should become a profession taught professionally at universities," and "This job has high demand and currently offers high salaries, so strict regulation is necessary."
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