A routine procedure turned into an unimaginable tragedy for one family after a California doctor allegedly made a devastating mistake that cost a newborn his life.
Orange County prosecutors have charged Dr. Hong-An Jan with involuntary manslaughter following the death of two-day-old Charles Wang, who died after a circumcision procedure in February 2024 at a clinic in Garden Grove.
According to authorities, the procedure took a horrifying turn when the doctor allegedly injected the infant with Demerol — a powerful narcotic — instead of a local anesthetic typically used to numb pain. Despite the apparent error, the procedure was carried out.
After returning home, Charles’ condition quickly raised alarm. His parents, Yiqi Wang and Hongyu Lu, said their newborn became lethargic and refused to feed. When they reached out to Jan, they claim he dismissed their concerns, telling them the symptoms were normal after circumcision.
Still worried, the parents brought their baby back to the clinic. But according to a civil lawsuit they later filed, Jan again reassured them without conducting any meaningful tests — no bloodwork, no lab studies — even as the baby showed signs consistent with opioid exposure.
Hours later, around 3 a.m., the unthinkable happened. The infant was found cold to the touch. He was pronounced dead shortly after.
A coroner’s report later determined the cause of death to be bronchopneumonia due to acute Demerol intoxication. Toxicology results revealed there was no anesthetic in the baby’s system — only dangerously high levels of the narcotic.
The parents say they were never told about the use of Demerol and only learned the truth after criminal charges were filed. They now accuse Jan of misleading them and falsifying medical records to conceal what happened.
Investigators say the tragedy was entirely preventable. In a court declaration, Irvine Police Detective Brian Feeling described the doctor’s actions as “negligent and preventable.”
Jan, whose medical license has since been suspended, pleaded not guilty to the felony charge in February. He is expected back in court for a pre-trial hearing on May 1. Someone at his office has reportedly said he has since retired from medicine.
The grieving parents are also pursuing a civil lawsuit, alleging wrongful death, medical malpractice, and fraud.
While circumcision is generally considered a low-risk procedure, rare complications can occur. In the U.S., about 100 infant deaths have been linked to the procedure or related complications — making this case all the more shocking.
Now, a family is left searching for answers — and accountability — after what should have been a routine moment turned into a heartbreaking loss.
