Spanish Woman Awarded Nearly EUR1 Million After Being Switched at Birth

A court in the Spanish region of La Rioja has ruled in favor of a woman who was unintentionally switched at birth in a hospital, granting her compensation of EUR975,000 for the lifelong impact of the error. The incident, which took place in June 2002 at San Millán Hospital in Logroño, involved two newborn girls who were mistakenly sent home with the wrong families. The identities of those involved have not been made public.

The switch remained undiscovered for years until a DNA test, conducted by one of the women, revealed the mistake. Subsequent investigations by the regional health authorities confirmed that both women had grown up with families who were not their biological relatives. Official confirmation was only obtained in 2021 after a prolonged inquiry.

The regional court determined that the mix-up was the result of human error. Both women affected by the incident have sought financial compensation, each requesting approximately EUR3 million. They argued that the initial compensation offer of EUR850,000 from the health authorities was insufficient given the profound personal consequences of the mistake.

In the most recent court decision, the amount awarded in one woman's case was increased by EUR125,000, bringing the total to EUR975,000. The court cited several aggravating factors in its decision, most notably that the woman was unable to reconnect with her biological mother, who had passed away in 2018 before the error was uncovered. This loss was recognized as an irreparable consequence of the hospital's mistake.

Legal representatives for the affected woman argued that the damages were permanent and could not be fully remedied, emphasizing the lifelong psychological and emotional impact of being separated from her biological family. The court acknowledged that such consequences justified a significant increase in compensation.

Meanwhile, the other woman involved in the incident continues to pursue her case, also seeking a compensation amount of around EUR3 million. The regional health service and the claimants have the right to appeal the court's ruling if they choose to do so.

San Millán Hospital, which was once recognized as one of La Rioja's leading public medical facilities, ceased operations in 2007 and was demolished two years later. Plans are reportedly underway to construct a new hospital on the original site.

This case has drawn significant public attention in Spain, highlighting the critical importance of strict procedures and oversight in hospital maternity wards to prevent similar incidents. The outcome also sets a precedent for the scale of compensation that may be awarded in cases involving severe, lifelong consequences stemming from medical errors.