Latest News:  

English>>China Society

Boy clings to life after father's abusive attack

By Wang Hongyi  (China Daily)

08:15, April 12, 2013

Teng Dejin, a 13-year-old boy from Yunnan province, in an intensive care unit at the Shanghai Children's Hospital on Wednesday. Yang Xiaodong / for China Daily

Father accused of beating son and throwing him into cesspool

A teenage boy, who sustained a serious head injury after allegedly being thrown into a cesspool by his father, remains in critical condition in a hospital in Shanghai.

The 13-year-old, from Yunnan province, is in intensive care with multiple intracranial injuries, and doctors at the Shanghai Children's Hospital say there is danger of brain damage.

According to local media, on Feb 23, Teng Dejin angered his father at their home in Shuifu county of Yunnan province by asking him to stop demanding money from his mother who is working in Zhejiang province.

The father is believed to have hit the boy in the head with a stick until he lost consciousness, and then thrown him into a cesspool.

Neighbors said they heard Teng's cries, pulled him from the pool and sent him to a hospital.

The father, Teng Mingcai, has been detained by police.

Teng was unconscious for 20 days.

He was then taken into the care of the social foundation Angel Mom, which arranged for him to receive further medical treatment in Shanghai.

Doctors at the Shanghai Children's Hospital, which is affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, carried out a CT scan on the boy's head and eye socket on Wednesday.

"Preliminary tests showed the boy's skull has suffered serious fractures, and cerebrospinal fluid is leaking," said Doctor Chen Ruoping at the hospital, adding the boy needed a lot more treatment.

Chen said further examinations will be made on Friday, after which treatment will be worked out.

He added that the boy is being treated for infection and to diminish the swelling.

His mother, He Chaoxin, said she will seek legal aid.

So far, the boy's treatment has cost 100,000 yuan ($16,140), although the hospital has provided financial aid to cover part of the costs. Angel Mom is helping the family collect money from the public.

The alleged child abuse incident is the latest to be brought to light. But the conviction and sentencing of such cases are often difficult due to a lack of laws.

Legal experts, public organizations and other bodies have now called for the legal protection of children living with abusive families.

Last week in Shanghai, a father was detained on suspicion of suffocating his 4-year-old girl because she reportedly would not stop crying.

Earlier this year, a proposal by the Shanghai Women's Federation submitted to the Shanghai People's Congress highlighted that currently only the crime of abusing a family member is specified in the Criminal Law, and the sentence does not exceed two years. There is no specific law against child abuse, it said.

The federation said the legislative body should designate child abuse as a crime and increase the punishment.


Latest development of H7N9 in China[Special]

We Recommend:

Shine on stage - Wuju Opera in photos

The 'milky river'- seriously polluted water

Terminal care - Go gentle into that good night

Photo story: Terminally ill man and his snack shop

New born tiger cubs meet with tourists in Jiangsu

Dawn of living dead in funeral stunt

China's weekly story (2013.3.23-3.28)

Floating bridge dates back to Song Dynasty

'How are you, my child'- loss of the only child

Email|Print|Comments(Editor:HuangJin、Chen Lidan)

Leave your comment0 comments

  1. Name

  

Selections for you


  1. Warship in drill with helicopter

  2. French frigate open to visitors in Hong Kong

  3. People gather for immigration reform

  4. Handicraft fans annual value tops 100 million yuan

  5. Expats rank attractive Chinese cities

  6. Poultry slaughter to curb flu

  7. Charming girls in Go game world

  8. Bikini models in Shanghai Fashion Week

  9. Int'l footwear exhibition kicks off in Shanghai

  10. Job fair in Tianjin held for college graduates

Most Popular

Opinions

  1. Hit film triggers discussion on giving birth abroad
  2. Philanthropists donate less as economy slows
  3. New media trend for Chinese language study in US
  4. Follow-up work needed for yuan's going global
  5. Boao Forum for Asia makes China, world closer
  6. Devoted to a life defending nation
  7. Errors in urbanization must be avoided
  8. What kind of public diplomacy does China need?
  9. Today's youths will prove their mettle
  10. Chinese spend less on hotels, still flash the cash

What’s happening in China

Homemade submarine, deep pockets | Also See: Incredible inventions by Chinese

  1. Beijing rejects rumor of human H7N9 infection
  2. Girl burned while saving mother
  3. 1.2 mln Chinese died from air pollution in 2010
  4. Ex-convict arrested after killing spree
  5. Trash-smuggling duo jailed