A Chinese woman disconnected her husband’s life support in retaliation for his infidelity. According to a report in the South China Morning Post, the 38-year-old man had abandoned his wife and was living with his mistress while still married.
The man, from China’s Liaoning province, recently suffered a brain hemorrhage at his mistress’s home and was rushed to the hospital, where he was admitted to the intensive care unit. When doctors attempted to locate the woman who had brought him in to obtain her consent for surgery, they found that she had disappeared.
Subsequently, another woman arrived at the hospital, claiming to be the man’s wife. A doctor, surnamed Chen, informed her that her husband was in critical condition, had slipped into a coma, and had low chances of surviving an operation.
The doctor also mentioned that the surgery was very costly and that the man could only survive on life support for a limited time.
The wife revealed that her husband had been unfaithful for over a decade, did not provide her with financial support, and had no feelings for her. She admitted that she did not love him either.
Refusing to sign the consent form, she asked the doctors to remove her husband’s life support. It remains unclear whether any other relatives were present at the hospital and if they were consulted.
Under Chinese law, doctors must explain the risks of surgery to the patient’s next-of-kin and obtain their written consent.
The wife’s decision to disconnect the life-supporting tracheal tube ignited a heated debate on Chinese social media.
“She is heartless. No matter what, giving up treatment is giving up a life,” one person wrote on Douyin. “Your wife will accompany you until old age. Treating your wife well is treating yourself well,” another countered.
