Preemie not enough supplies clinic and doctor have to pay compensation

Baby had not been medically treated due to a treatment guideline
After the death of a premature baby in a Cologne clinic, the district court has now sentenced the hospital and the responsible doctor to pay 15,000 euros in compensation. The mother of the girl, born in June 2007, had previously filed a lawsuit because the child had not received any medical treatment after birth and died as a result. A likewise complained midwife, however, was free.

Child is born after only 22 weeks of pregnancy
The mother Melanie L. came in June 2007 after only 22 weeks of pregnancy due to a rupture of membranes in the clinic Holweide, as this has a perinatal center and is thus specialized in the care of premature babies. However, there was a guideline that premature babies are only treated from the 23rd Week of pregnancy, why the girl is left uncontrolled and died just under an hour after his birth.

The mother of the premature baby, who died in 2007, now receives compensation from the clinic and the responsible doctor. (Image: Tobilander / fotolia.com)

Ms. L. then sued the midwife, the then responsible doctor and the clinic for incorrect obstetric treatment and demanded 12,000 euros in damages. Now the district court of Cologne has in the case a sentence (Az .: 25 O 242/10) spoken: As the news agency "dpa" reports, the hospital and doctor were sentenced to pay 15,000 euros in pain and suffering. The also complained midwife, however, was in the opinion of the chamber not to blame for misconduct.

Parents should have been advised
According to the information, the Cologne-based clinic had relied on a medical guideline to treat premature infants at the limit of viability - but they did not have to. From the 24th week of pregnancy, however, the treatment is mandatory. Therefore, in the view of the court, although there was no general obligation for a medical care of prematurely born baby, but "the parents should have been advised in detail," said the court spokesman, according to the Agency. The parents were therefore not informed about the chances of survival and the long-term health risks for the child. The girl was born with a weight of only 460 grams and a body length of 28 centimeters. (No)