On November 20, 2025, in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, the case of a 5-month-old baby girl who passed away during minimally invasive heart surgery at the Women and Children’s Hospital affiliated with Ningbo University continues to stir public uproar. Online voices of support for the family persist as they seek answers.
On November 17, Ms. Deng Rongrong from Ningbo shared a lengthy post and a video on social media, exposing the situation in which her 5-month-old daughter, Xiaoluoxi, passed away during heart surgery at the Women and Children’s Hospital. She raised questions about the surgical process and the doctors involved. Ms. Deng’s ordeal has garnered widespread support from netizens, surging to the top trending topic on Weibo.
Under public pressure, the hospital responded on November 17, stating that an investigation had been launched on Dr. Chen, and he had been suspended from practicing. The hospital pledged to cooperate with the family in seeking legal recourse. If medical negligence is found, appropriate actions will be taken in accordance with the investigation results.
A source familiar with the incident disclosed the latest developments to a reporter.
The source revealed that the continuous presence of the baby’s family at Tianyi Square in Haishu District to demand justice was a last resort, as the hospital had shown no willingness to address the issue. It is understood that many people have shown up at the square to support the grieving family.
“The parents are currently in a state of despair. The mother hasn’t been able to eat for days, can’t sleep at night thinking about her child, yet she has to stay strong to deal with everything the next day,” the source stated.
According to the source, negotiations between the family and the hospital following the incident yielded no results. The hospital’s deputy director, during a meeting with the family, did not show any intention of resolving the matter and appeared unresponsive, wearing a mask throughout the encounter. The family felt unheard and dismissed during the entire process.
The hospital eventually told the family, “The surgery went relatively smoothly, but unfortunately, we couldn’t save the child’s life.”
Efforts to reach the hospital’s public relations office for a comment were futile, as they declined phone interviews.
The family, as per the source, is not seeking any compensation but solely demanding a public apology from Ningbo Women and Children’s Hospital and the chief surgeon, Dr. Chen Xianjun. They want acknowledgment of the mistakes, transparency in sharing surgical records and case information, a commitment from Dr. Chen to refrain from performing surgeries, and a plea to prevent similar tragedies from recurring.
Following the dissemination of this incident online, some netizens claimed that Dr. Chen was not a first-time offender, citing Xiaoluoxi as the third baby to suffer under his care. In June of this year, Dr. Chen was reported to have caused the death of a 1-year-old baby, but the hospital allegedly covered up the incident.
The source confirmed the previous case, noting that both families have been in contact. However, due to the emotional toll on the grieving family and elders, they are reluctant to speak publicly and can no longer handle any additional scrutiny.
Based on the account shared by Xiaoluoxi’s mother, Deng Rongrong, the premature baby was placed in an incubator after being born a month early. Regular checkups led the family to Ningbo Women and Children’s Hospital. During a routine inspection on November 11, an ultrasound revealed a secondary heart septal defect due to prematurity. Concerned, the family consulted Dr. Chen Xianjun in the Cardiology Department regarding the timing of surgery. Although the family worried about waiting for the child to grow a bit for a safer general anesthesia procedure, Dr. Chen recommended an early operation, reassuring them of its low risk and short duration.
Believing in Dr. Chen’s advice, the surgery began on the morning of November 14 at 9:25 a.m. and concluded at 4:37 p.m. The full anesthesia lasted for 7 hours and 12 minutes, with the entire process from pre-operation preparation to completion taking nearly 9 hours.
The source disclosed that the doctor informed the waiting family members around 2 p.m. that the surgery was successful, bringing them relief. However, they did not get to see the child until 4:37 p.m. when she was wheeled out of the operating room, but it was not revealed at that time that she had been transferred to the ICU.
As this incident continues to evolve online, a large number of netizens have expressed solidarity with the mother of the baby girl. One netizen remarked, “If such a serious incident is hushed up, then this society is not suitable for the arrival of new life.”