Doris Gruenwald, 27, only discovered after a routine blood test when she was 22
that she was not biologically related to the couple she thought were her
parents. It was later found out that their was a mix-up in the 20 hours between the birth
and the mother, recovering from a caesarean section, being given the
child. Read more details after cut…
The Austrian hospital involved has been ordered to
pay 90,000 euros (£80,000) in damages over the mix-up of two babies
almost 30 years ago. The
clinic, University Hospital Graz, however cast doubt on whether the
mix-up happened there, suggesting it may have taken place later and
somewhere else.
But the court rejected
this, ruling that the mix-up happened in the 20 hours between the birth
and the mother, recovering from a caesarean section, being given the
child.
this, ruling that the mix-up happened in the 20 hours between the birth
and the mother, recovering from a caesarean section, being given the
child.
Ruling there was ‘gross
negligence’, it awarded damages of 30,000 euros each for Doris and
Evelin Gruenwald plus her husband, as well as the costs from the couple
adopting her.
negligence’, it awarded damages of 30,000 euros each for Doris and
Evelin Gruenwald plus her husband, as well as the costs from the couple
adopting her.
Doris Gruenwald still does not know
who her biological parents are, while the other victim is unaware that
she was brought up by the wrong people.
who her biological parents are, while the other victim is unaware that
she was brought up by the wrong people.
This
is despite the hospital having last year launched a programme offering
free DNA tests to the 200 women born in the hospital around the same
time and their mothers.
is despite the hospital having last year launched a programme offering
free DNA tests to the 200 women born in the hospital around the same
time and their mothers.
So far, only about 30 women have taken advantage of the tests and no matches have been found.
The
local health authority said it planned to appeal against the ruling,
saying that the court had failed to establish that the babies were mixed
up at the hospital.
local health authority said it planned to appeal against the ruling,
saying that the court had failed to establish that the babies were mixed
up at the hospital.
Doris’ devastated
mother Evelin Gruenwald, who raised her as her own, told the Krone
daily newspaper: ‘Of course it was a huge shock for me and my daughter.
mother Evelin Gruenwald, who raised her as her own, told the Krone
daily newspaper: ‘Of course it was a huge shock for me and my daughter.
‘But we knew from the start that nothing could separate us, that we would stay mother and daughter.
‘This child is the best thing that ever happened to me.’
LKH
University Hospital Graz said at the time of Doris’s birth no other
baby girl was born with such a low weight as the premature Doris in its
hospital.
University Hospital Graz said at the time of Doris’s birth no other
baby girl was born with such a low weight as the premature Doris in its
hospital.
Dailymail