Doctor Charged After Botched Circumcision Leads to Infant's Death

California doctor faces criminal charges and lawsuit over alleged use of narcotic instead of local anesthetic during procedure.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 9:37pm

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An extreme close-up of a newborn's umbilical cord clamp, the harsh lighting and stark black background creating a gritty, investigative aesthetic that conceptually represents the serious nature of the alleged medical malpractice.A harsh, unforgiving flash illuminates the medical equipment at the center of a tragic case of alleged medical negligence.Garden Grove Today

A California doctor is facing criminal charges and a wrongful death lawsuit after he allegedly gave a 3-day-old infant a narcotic instead of a local anesthetic during a circumcision procedure, leading to the boy's death. Dr. Hong-An Jan is charged with involuntary manslaughter and is accused of concealing his use of the narcotic Demerol from the parents, who say their son exhibited profound lethargy and abnormal unresponsiveness after the procedure.

Why it matters

This case highlights concerns over medical malpractice and the need for proper oversight and accountability in the healthcare system, especially when it comes to procedures involving newborn infants. The alleged actions of the doctor, if proven true, represent a severe breach of trust and duty of care that resulted in a tragic and preventable loss of life.

The details

According to the lawsuit, on February 27, 2024, Dr. Jan performed a circumcision on 3-day-old Charles Wang at his private practice in Garden Grove, California. Instead of using the local anesthetic Xylocaine as is typical for such procedures, the lawsuit alleges that Jan "intentionally administered" the narcotic Demerol. Charles exhibited profound lethargy, inability to feed, and abnormal unresponsiveness after the procedure, but Jan allegedly "affirmatively reassured" the parents that the symptoms were normal. Charles died the next day, and toxicology reports showed he had "excessive levels" of Demerol in his system. The parents claim Jan concealed his use of the narcotic and falsely documented that he had used the local anesthetic.

  • On February 27, 2024, Dr. Jan performed the circumcision on 3-day-old Charles Wang.
  • Charles exhibited severe symptoms within hours of the procedure on February 27.
  • Charles died the following day, on February 28, 2024.
  • Police began investigating after the cause of death was determined to be a drug overdose.
  • Dr. Jan was later indicted by a grand jury and is set to appear in court on May 1.

The players

Dr. Hong-An Jan

A California doctor facing criminal charges of involuntary manslaughter and a wrongful death lawsuit over the death of a 3-day-old infant following a botched circumcision procedure.

Charles Wang

A 3-day-old infant who died after Dr. Jan allegedly administered a narcotic instead of a local anesthetic during a circumcision procedure.

Yiqi Wang and Hongyu Lu

The parents of Charles Wang, who have filed a wrongful death and medical malpractice lawsuit against Dr. Jan.

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What they’re saying

“The claims in this case are primarily based upon the intentional misconduct, unauthorized drug administration, deceit, concealment of material facts, and conscious disregard for the life and safety of a newborn child.”

— Leodis C. Matthews, Plaintiff's lawyer

“The administration of that narcotic was not disclosed to Plaintiffs, and its risks were concealed until the unveiling of an indictment, which, for the first time, disclosed the false records and wrong use of a narcotic sedative.”

— Leodis C. Matthews, Plaintiff's lawyer

“The doctor's actions were negligent and preventable.”

— Detective, Irvine Police Department

What’s next

Dr. Jan is set to appear in court on May 1 to face the criminal charges of involuntary manslaughter. His medical license has been suspended pending the outcome of the case.

The takeaway

This tragic case underscores the critical need for strict oversight and accountability in the medical profession, especially when it comes to procedures involving newborn infants. It serves as a sobering reminder of the devastating consequences that can result from alleged medical malpractice and the violation of the fundamental duty of care owed to patients.