Hospital swap babies given final compensation

A Czech court has cut the total damages awarded to two couples whose babies were swapped at birth by their local hospital. The High Court in Olomouc on Wednesday ruled that the parents receive total compensation of 3.2 million crowns or around 175,000 US dollars. That is 100,000 crowns lower than the previous award from the regional court in Brno. The sum will be taken from the damages awarded to one of the fathers.

The compensation total was challenged by the hospital in Třebíč. The latest decision cannot be appealed. The hospital’s mistake came to light almost a year after the babies were born in December 2006. One husband demanded genetic tests because the baby bore no resemblance to him.

Author: Chris Johnstone