A court has ordered a hospital to pay more than 600 million won ($430,000) in damages to a couple and their son, who was born with disabilities after doctors refused to perform a cesarean section despite a prolonged and difficult labor.
The ruling said the hospital was responsible for forcing a natural birth that led to the child’s permanent injury, a decision legal experts say is rare in both the size of compensation and recognition of medical negligence.
The Suwon High Court, presided over by Judge Lee Soo-young, ruled on Sept. 19 that the hospital must pay 620 million won to the parents and their son, along with interest. Including accrued interest since the birth, the compensation amounts to roughly 1.01 billion won as of Monday.