Police are investigating a children's hospital in Quanzhou, Fujian province, after a newborn was allegedly burned to death in an incubator.
The infant's parents agreed on Friday to an autopsy to determine "whether the baby died of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome or too high a temperature" in the incubator, Chen Xiahong, a Quanzhou publicity official, said.
"We will publish the result soon," Chen said.
Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome is a condition common among children under the age of 6 that causes painful blistering of the skin.
The shocking incident was first exposed on Thursday by a netizen who claimed to be a relative of the infant.
The netizen posted a horrific photo on the Chinese micro-blogging website Sina Weibo that showed the baby lying face down on a blanket with severe sores and burns on its back.
According to the baby's father, Ye Yilong, the baby girl was born with low oxygen on July 6 at Quanzhou Children's Hospital after more than 10 hours of labor.
The doctor suggested placing the infant in an incubator under observation for about 10 days, Ye told China Daily on Friday.
On July 14, doctors said the baby could be discharged soon, but a day later they said she caught a cold and may have an infection.
On July 17, the hospital informed Ye that the baby had died.
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