Taiwan mum causes baby’s 3-toe amputation after falling asleep with hairdryer, jailed
Court says according to woman’s educational qualifications, cognitive abilities, she should have had the common sense to avert tragedy
A Taiwanese mother used a hairdryer to dry her newborn daughter’s damp bed but accidentally fell asleep, resulting in severe burns on the baby’s legs and leading to the amputation of three toes.
This unfortunate incident took place on September 16, 2023, in Taipei, when the mother, identified by her surname Wu, fell asleep while using the hairdryer to dry her newborn’s bedsheet. Her baby’s legs were exposed to the intense heat for three hours.
It was only at 4pm that Wu awoke to discover her daughter’s legs had blistered, prompting an urgent call to emergency medical services and a trip to the hospital.
Medical professionals determined that the burns covered 15.5 per cent of the baby’s body surface area, resulting in irreparable tissue damage despite treatment efforts. Consequently, this led to the amputation of the middle, ring, and little toes on the baby’s left foot.
Following the incident, Wu faced prosecution for negligence that resulted in severe injury.
