€2m damages for baby-swap families
Hospital in Cannes told to pay compensation for 20-year-old blunder in which newborn girls were handed to wrong parents
THE families of two girls who were accidentally switched at birth in Cannes more than 20 years ago have been awarded nearly €2million in compensation.
A court in Grasse, Alpes-Maritimes, ordered the Cannes-la-Bocca Clinic to pay €400,000 to each of the girls. Three parents have been awarded €300,000 and the clinic must also pay €60,000 each to three siblings.
Both babies had been placed in the same incubator in 1994 shortly after being born, but were later handed to the wrong parents.
The error was discovered 10 years ago, when Sophie Serrano and her husband had tests which proved neither of them was the biological parent of their daughter, Manon.
Speaking before the court’s decision, Ms Serrano explained that, shortly after being born, her child had jaundice and was placed in the incubator along with the baby of the other parents - who have decided not to speak publicly.
She tracked down the parents, and together they learned that their girls had been switched.
She told BFMTV that she court’s decision was “a relief”.
“After so many years, finally, the error is recognised,” she said.
Her daughter Manon said: “I can move on now and do what I want with my life.”
Speaking after the ruling, a lawyer for one of the families said they were “ satisfied with the decision” and would not appeal, despite receiving much less than the €12million they had asked for.
Since meeting a decade ago and despite the court case, the two families have decided to distance themselves from each other. The two young women have remained with the parents who raised them.
Image: BFMTV screengrab
