OB-GYN Faces Manslaughter Charge After Infant's Death Following Circumcision

Prosecutors allege doctor's negligence led to newborn's death hours after procedure at private clinic

Mar. 28, 2026 at 6:35pm

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Orange County prosecutors have charged Dr. Hong-An Jan, an OB-GYN, with a felony count of involuntary manslaughter after an infant died following a circumcision he performed at his private clinic in Garden Grove. Prosecutors allege Jan injected a synthetic opioid into the newborn during the procedure, leading to the infant's death from acute Demerol intoxication.

Why it matters

Infant deaths from circumcisions are a rare but real risk of the procedure, with some estimates suggesting over 100 deaths per year related to neonatal circumcisions. This case highlights concerns about transparency and oversight around medical procedures, especially when they result in tragedy.

The details

Prosecutors claim that during the circumcision on February 27, 2024, Dr. Jan injected the newborn, Charles Wang, with Demerol, a powerful opioid painkiller, instead of the local anesthetic Xylocaine that was reported to have been used. A toxicology report found high levels of Demerol in the infant's system, and the coroner ruled the cause of death as bronchopneumonia due to acute Demerol intoxication. The infant's parents, Yiqi Wang and Hongyu Lu, are also suing Jan for wrongful death, medical malpractice, and fraud, alleging he concealed the use of Demerol and misled them about the procedure.

  • On February 27, 2024, Dr. Jan performed the circumcision on the newborn at his private clinic in Garden Grove.
  • The infant died around 3 a.m. the following day, February 28, 2024.
  • On February 19, 2026, Dr. Jan pleaded not guilty to a felony involuntary manslaughter charge.
  • Dr. Jan's medical license was suspended by court order on February 19, 2026, pending the outcome of the criminal case.

The players

Dr. Hong-An Jan

An OB-GYN who performed the circumcision on the newborn at his private clinic in Garden Grove, California. He is facing a felony involuntary manslaughter charge and has had his medical license suspended.

Yiqi Wang and Hongyu Lu

The parents of the newborn who died following the circumcision procedure. They are suing Dr. Jan for wrongful death, medical malpractice, and fraud.

Brian Feeling

An Irvine Police Department detective who investigated the case and interviewed Dr. Jan.

Kate Corrigan

The defense attorney representing Dr. Jan.

J. Stevens Svoboda

An attorney and advocate who founded the group Attorneys for the Rights of the Child, which advocates against routine infant male circumcision.

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What they’re saying

“Any infant who dies, it's a huge tragedy. It's so much worse when the death happened because of a procedure there was no reason for.”

— J. Stevens Svoboda, Executive Director, Attorneys for the Rights of the Child

“Advocates are pushing for flag notification to be put on a doctor's profile if they're being investigated for an egregious harm, like a patient death. A patient is supposed to know all the risks and benefits of any treatment or procedure. The doctor's background should be included in that. If you don't know your doctor is under criminal investigation or medical board investigation, then you can't give full consent.”

— Marian Hollingsworth, Patient Safety Advocate

What’s next

Dr. Jan is scheduled to appear in court on May 1 for a pre-trial hearing in the criminal case. The civil lawsuit filed by the newborn's parents is also ongoing.

The takeaway

This tragic case highlights the need for greater transparency and oversight around medical procedures, especially when they involve vulnerable patients like newborns. It also underscores the importance of fully informed consent and the responsibility of doctors to prioritize patient safety above all else.