KAOHSIUNG, TAIWAN — A 43-year-old man has drawn national attention and stirred widespread debate across Taiwan and mainland China after he reportedly left his mother lying on the bathroom floor for six days after she collapsed from a stroke — an incident that ultimately led to her death.
The man, Mr. Zheng, had lived with his 66-year-old mother for over two decades, acting as her sole caregiver. She had long struggled with mental health challenges and complications following a prior stroke. Neighbors said she had a history of falling and often rejected help — even from social services — preferring to manage on her own.
On May 18, she collapsed in the bathroom. Mr. Zheng later told authorities that when he asked if she was alright, she responded by telling him not to worry. He reportedly continued with his daily routine, passing by her several times and calling out to her on the second and third days, but received no reply. For two days afterward, he left the house and did not check on her.
It wasn’t until May 23 that he returned home and found his mother deceased, with her body already beginning to decompose. He then contacted the police.
Forensic Insight and Legal Action
Dr. Gao Dacheng, a forensic expert, noted the mother’s blackened face suggested possible internal bleeding from a subarachnoid hemorrhage, a condition that can develop gradually over several days after a fall. “This may not point to intentional harm but could represent gross negligence,” Gao said.
Mr. Zheng has since been detained and referred to the Kaohsiung District Prosecutor’s Office on suspicion of murder and abandonment.
A Life of Strain and Isolation
Details of Zheng’s life have generated sympathy from the public. After his father left and his brother died in a car crash, Zheng remained home for 20 years to care for his mother. He worked long hours at a factory while managing her care alone.
Neighbors were shocked. One described him as “filial to the extreme,” noting he had never married and devoted his life to his mother’s care. “He worked overtime and never complained,” another said.
Public Reaction and Emotional Debate
The case has gone viral on Taiwanese and Chinese social media platforms, with many expressing empathy for Zheng’s mental and emotional exhaustion.
- “Don’t judge without understanding someone’s suffering. He probably reached his limit,” one commenter said.
- “He gave up everything — marriage, freedom, a future — for caregiving. Despair must’ve consumed him,” said another.
- “There’s a Japanese book that describes this kind of caregiving despair. The system should weigh both law and humanity.”
As legal proceedings move forward, the case has reignited national conversations on caregiver burnout, eldercare support, and mental health resources for isolated family caregivers in Taiwan.
