Teenage patient in China gets life for stabbing medical staff

BEIJING (AP) - A Chinese court sentenced a teenager to life in prison on Friday for killing a medical intern and stabbing three other workers at a north-eastern hospital, in a case seen as a symptom of frustration over a dysfunctional health care system.

Li Mengnan's rampage at the hospital in March has become a focal point of anger over inadequacies in China's medical system. In handing down a heavy sentence, the authorities were likely hoping to deter other similar attacks.

The father of the 28-year-old intern Wang Hao killed said in a phone interview that the outcome of the case was as he had expected.

"From a legal perspective, the court's decision was fair. But in my heart, it is still unfair," Mr Wang Dongqing said. "My son was taken from me. Even if they had sentenced him to death, it would have been unfair."