Doctor severely punished for baby trafficking

Zhang Shuxia is sentenced to death with a two years' reprieve on Tuesday for trafficking seven babies. (Photo: China News Service / Zhang Yuan)

Zhang Shuxia, an obstetrician in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve on Tuesday for trafficking seven babies, a local court said.

Zhang, a doctor with Fuping County Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, is accused of selling seven babies, one of whom later died, to human traffickers after persuading their parents to give up their "sick" newborns, according to the Weinan Intermediate People's Court.

On July 20, a mother surnamed Dong suspected her baby had been abducted and reported the incident to police. Zhang is accused of falsely claiming that her child had a congenital disease, according to the court. The baby was found in good condition in neighboring Henan Province on August 5.

Zhang was detained in August and stood trial on December 30, 2013.

(Updated)