What Is A Baby's life Worth?

I have always thought and still think that a human life is priceless, anybody's life. But apparently a baby's life is reckoned to be worth €66,000 - at least that's what the Court of Justice decided. In a case concluded in which a gynaecologist was charged of imprudence causing the death of a baby at the time of birth.

The defendant admitted her guilt and was sentenced to pay €1,080 for minor imprudence and €66,000 compensation to the parents of the deceased baby. The prosecution had previously asked for 2 years of jail and 3 years of disqualification. But an agreement had been reached between the 2 parties before the day of sentencing.

The incident happened in a few years ago when a woman went in labour in the hospital, 'The Clinic' in Barcelona. At the end of 6 hours the woman was in distress with the difficulty of labour, and the doctor, the accused, instead of opting for caesarian, decided to provoke the birth process by means of forceps, a decision often correct and necessary, but highly risky nevertheless. It was unfortunately so in this case and the baby died of insufficiency of oxygen in the brain and obstruction in breathing.

The doctor had asked forgiveness in court of the parents, who had since had a miscarriage then subsequently, eventually, had a healthy baby son. Nobody can say it's a happy ending, there's no winner. Nor even correct or just. One really has to be in the shoes of those parents to know how they feel about the baby they lost. With the cash in hand is the pain any less, more bearable or, more of a reminder of the extremely sad memory; or if they could really enjoyed the money.

 

Tags:gynaecologist,baby

Current Mood: Cynical