A Tianjin couple's decision to withdraw medical treatment for their newborn baby, who suffers life-threatening birth defects, has triggered outcry here in China. The story first came to light at the end of January, after the family of the infant transferred her to a hospice in the city.

The baby, who suffers from a number of serious medical conditions including an imperforate anus, blocked urinary tract, and heart disease, was initially treated in hospital.

However the family decided to stop treatment after 13 days saying that, as the baby's condition was hopeless and the treatment extremely painful, they wanted to let her die with dignity.