China: Woman Dies After Forced Sterilization

DABANCHENG VILLAGE, Hubei Province, China, -- A mother of two died after a forced sterilization, which took place against a doctor's orders, Women's Rights in China reports. On March 19, a doctor at Tongshan County warned that sterilizing Shen Hongxia would be life-threatening. Nevertheless, local Family Planning Officers forcibly sterilized her, in order to avoid an "illegal pregnancy." Shen Hongxia, 42, died, leaving behind her husband and two children, one of whom is two years old. The Family Planning Bureau and the Village Committee attempted to cover up their criminal responsibility by making an agreement to compensate the family by installments, and to build them a house. Family members felt forced to sign the agreement, as they saw no other way to seek relief.