Compensation for pain and suffering of 800,000 euros: family fights after medical errors

Compensation for pain and suffering of 800,000 euros: family fights after medical errors

In Bunde, a small town in the Leer district of Lower Saxony, a court ruling brought relief and at the same time deep sadness for the Tannigel family. Felix Tannigel, who is severely disabled after a medical error at birth, received 800,000 euros in compensation from the Aurich regional court. This verdict is final and the family has fought for its rights in the courtrooms for three long years. Felix was born lifeless and had to be resuscitated. Today he can't walk, doesn't speak properly and requires around-the-clock care.

The mother, Suleika Tannigel, expressed relief after the verdict: "It's a bit of a ray of hope, but the sadness about the situation remains." One can imagine that the lengthy process took a heavy emotional toll. The lawsuit against the hospital was filed in 2022 after the Aurich regional court found that the then chief physician had initiated the necessary cesarean section too late. The presiding judge came to the sobering conclusion that Felix would be a healthy child today if action had been taken earlier. The family plans to use the compensation for the barrier-free renovation of their house in order to give him a better life.

Record-breaking compensation for pain and suffering in Germany

However, the judgment in Bunde is not the only one of its kind. A sensational case also recently took place in Göttingen. Here, a nine-year-old patient who has been severely disabled since her birth in 2016 was awarded compensation of one million euros. This decision, which was based on serious errors during the delivery, is not yet legally binding, but has similar dimensions to the Tannigel case. The failure to perform an emergency cesarean section despite fetal distress and inadequate care after birth resulted in serious harm.

The assessment of such treatment errors is based not only on medical but also legal aspects. The claims for pain and suffering are based on contractual and tortious liability, whereby gross treatment errors result in a reversal of the burden of proof in favor of the patient. This has greatly reduced the legal hurdles for families taking action against medical errors. Although the highest compensation ever awarded for such a case was awarded here in the Göttingen Regional Court, it shows much more the serious impact that incorrect medical decisions can have on the lives of patients and their relatives.

The impact on the lives of those affected

Doctors and midwives have a great responsibility and the legal requirements for them are clear. Complete documentation, close monitoring and timely reactions to complications are essential in order not to endanger the well-being of the patient. The current judgments underline the need for the utmost care in obstetrics and the deep consequences of gross medical errors. These tragic cases highlight how important it is that everything goes smoothly during birth - because there is literally a lot at stake.

Especially in an area that is so familiar and yet so vulnerable, it is important to ensure that medical standards are adhered to for everyone involved. The compensation, as awarded in the cases of Felix Tannigel and the nine-year-old patient in Göttingen, is intended not only to compensate for the suffering suffered, but also to serve as a reminder of the need for care and responsibility. We hope that these rulings can bring about a change for the better in medical practice in order to prevent such tragic fates in the future.

Further information can be found at NDR, Law.cc and Mirror.