News & Milestones
Botched birth - cantonal hospital liable
By Rolf P. Steinegger
Problems arose during a birth in June 1997 at the Fribourg cantonal
hospital. A foetomaternal transfusion short-supplying the foetus with oxygen,
led to severe neurological damage to the brain.
The applicants – the injured child, its parents and siblings as well as a
social security insurance fund, represented by Steinegger Rechtsanwälte – sued
(2001) the Fribourg cantonal hospital for various infringements of their duty
of care and claimed hospital liability.
The Administrative Court of the Canton of Fribourg ruled in favour (government
liability) of the applicants in its judgement of 01.12.2009 (1A 2001-47)
The court reached the overall conclusion that, after a certain point, the
conduct of the doctors no longer complied with the rules of medical practice.
In the light of unawareness of the child's actual condition, and, based on the
entire circumstances ranging from the initial clarification requirements to the
pathological sequences of the CTG (cardiotocogramm), a timely Caesarean section
should have been carried out. "Thus the defendant (namely the hospital) has
to accept liability for multiple and, in part, severe infringement of the duty
of care during this time span."
In its judgement of 09.07.2010 (4A_48/2010), the Swiss Federal Supreme Court
confirmed that of the Administrative Court.
"Notre fille n'a pas la vie qu'elle mérite", in L'illustré of 22.09.2010, 34.
Santé: bientôt des indemnités à 7 chiffres?, in Le Temps Online of 06.09.2010.
Casse-tête pour connaître la future profession d'un bébé de 6 mois, in Le Temps Online of 06.09.2010.
The cantonal hospital expresses regret, in the Freiburger Nachrichten of 19.08.2010, 6.
L'hôpital de Fribourg indemnise une fillette, in Le Temps of 19.08.2010, 6.