Pregnant woman jumps to death: Who is to blame?

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A pregnant woman who jumped off a hospital building in Yulin, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, after being denied a C-section last Thursday has sparked outrage on Chinese social media.

On August 30, the 26-year-old surnamed Ma arrived at the First Hospital of Yulin 42 weeks pregnant, according to a statement from the hospital published on Wednesday.

Huo Junwei, a doctor at the hospital then examined Ma and found that “the fetal head was very large, meaning that a vaginal delivery would likely be risky.” Therefore, he recommended a C-section, which was refused by the family, according to Chinese Business View.

26-year-old surnamed Ma kills herself on August 31. /Sina Photo

The statement said the hospital had informed the family of the situation and tried to get permission for the surgery, but was repeatedly rejected.

The next morning, Ma entered the maternity ward, in extreme pain.

She even walked out of the ward twice, pleading with her family members for consent to have a cesarean section, the hospital claimed, providing surveillance video which shows Ma kneeling down to beg her husband and family - still, the family refused her demands.

Then, at around 8:00 p.m., Ma fell from a fifth-floor window of the ward, killing both herself and the unborn child after she “lost control of her emotions.”

Ma kneels down outside the maternity ward. /Photo via the First Hospital of Yulin

The hospital's claim was however contradicted by Ma's family. The husband named Yan Li said that his wife kneeled down because it was too painful, and that they asked for a cesarean after Ma’s request for a natural birth but the hospital refused to perform one, the Beijing Youth Daily reported.

“The doctor said that there was no need for a cesarean as my wife is safe and the baby was coming out," said Yan, according to the report.

Yan’s agreement with the hospital to let Ma give birth by natural labor. /Chinese Business View photo

The case has triggered heated discussion on Chinese social media, with most netizens accusing the family of not respecting Ma's decision.

"Besides the pregnant woman, there's no need to ask anyone else’s opinion," Weibo user @keyanbaogaowangxuebao commented. The post has so far gained over 60,000 likes.

Further investigation is still underway.