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<\/p>\nOrange County prosecutors have charged an OB-GYN with a felony count of involuntary manslaughter after an infant died following a circumcision he performed.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors allege that Dr. Hong-An Jan injected a synthetic opioid into Charles Wang, a two-day-old newborn, during the procedure on Feb. 27, 2024, at his private Garden Grove clinic.<\/p>\n
In a court declaration, Irvine Police Department Detective Brian Feeling claimed that Jan\u2019s actions were \u201cnegligent and preventable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jan pleaded not guilty on Feb. 19 to a felony involuntary manslaughter charge. He is scheduled to appear in court on May 1 for a pre-trial hearing.<\/p>\n
Kate Corrigan, a defense attorney representing Jan, declined to comment.<\/p>\n
Yiqi Wang and Hongyu Lu, the newborn\u2019s parents, are also suing the obstetrician in civil court for wrongful death, medical malpractice and fraud.<\/p>\n
A toxicology report that followed the infant\u2019s death revealed no traces of Xylocaine, a local anesthetic reported to have been used during the circumcision. High levels of Demerol, a Schedule II narcotic painkiller, were detected instead. <\/p>\n
An Orange County coroner\u2019s report updated Charles\u2019 cause of death to bronchopneumonia due to acute Demerol intoxication.<\/p>\n
Building off the criminal case, an attorney for the Wangs filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Orange County Superior Court that names Jan and South Coast Global Medical Center in Santa Ana as defendants.<\/p>\n
According to the suit, Lu gave birth at the hospital under Jan\u2019s guidance and care. The next day, Jan suggested circumcising the baby right away. His parents agreed with Jan\u2019s professional opinion.<\/p>\n
After the circumcision at Jan\u2019s private Garden Grove clinic, the new parents noticed troubling symptoms. They reported over the phone to Jan that the newborn had refused feedings, appeared lethargic and was abnormally unresponsive.<\/p>\n
Charles\u2019 parents claimed that Jan assured them the symptoms were \u201cnormal and not cause for concern.\u201d <\/p>\n
Still worried about their infant\u2019s health, the couple brought him to Jan\u2019s Garden Grove clinic later that day.<\/p>\n
\u201cJan only \u2018looked\u2019 at [Charles] and reassured [his parents] that these symptoms were \u2018normal\u2019 post-circumcision reactions and advised them to return home,\u201d the suit claims. \u201cHe did not take any blood samples or order any laboratory studies, even though he observed the symptoms \u2026 symptomatic of opiate substances.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the criminal case, Feeling interviewed Jan about the followup visit. Jan told the detective that Charles appeared \u201cvery quiet\u201d and sleepy \u2014 an assessment made without a physical examination.<\/p>\n
The physician sent the family home.<\/p>\n
The baby was found cold to the touch, not breathing and unresponsive the next day around 3 a.m., according to the lawsuit. <\/p>\n
The parents rushed their son to the Children\u2019s Hospital of Orange County\u2019s emergency room, where doctors pronounced him dead an hour later.<\/p>\n
Shortly after the baby died, the Irvine Police Department and the county coroner\u2018s office initiated an investigation.<\/p>\n
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The South Coast Global Medical Center in Santa Ana where Dr. Jan delivered Wang two years ago. <\/p>\n
(James Carbone\/James Carbone)<\/p>\n