A doctor has been accused of selling a newborn baby to human traffickers after telling the baby's mother he would not survive.
The extraordinary allegation has emerged from China where it is claimed obstetrician Zhang Lin told new mum Dong Wan, 31, that her son was born with severe health problems and would soon die.
The doctor is then said to have persuaded the mother to sign the baby over to the hospital before selling the boy to traffickers for £3,000 ($4,600). The doctor has now been arrested.
The healthy baby boy was tracked down by investigators after Dong became suspicious. She has now been reunited with her son.
The mother said: "I was told the baby would not survive and the best thing for me would be to let the hospital take care of it so I did."
After signing the documents at The Fuping County Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital in Shaanxi province, Dong changed her mind and begged her husband, Lai Guofeng, to call the police.
The baby was tracked down hundreds of miles away in neighbouring Henan province where the original traffickers had sold him on for a profit.
Police investigators say Zhang and two suspected accomplices are under arrest.
Local deputy director Chen Jainfeng said: "The suspects told us where the baby was and with the help of local police we found the child.
"The baby is undergoing medical tests and is on his way home."
Police are investigating at least seven similar cases in the region.
More on Parentdish: Grandfather sold baby on Facebook