Cyprus Court Awards Record €2.5 Million for Medical Negligence

The Nicosia District Court has awarded an unprecedented €2.5 million in compensation for medical negligence. The Republic of Cyprus will pay this sum due to errors made by doctors at Makarios Hospital during a childbirth procedure, which led to brain damage and intellectual disability in the child.

The lawsuit, filed by the minor’s parents in 2014 on behalf of their child, was based on alleged medical negligence by the doctors involved. According to the parents' legal team, the negligence included perinatal asphyxia, hypoxia, and improper actions taken by the medical staff responsible for the delivery at Makarios Hospital.

The attorneys argued that the baby should have been delivered by cesarean section; however, the hospital doctors proceeded with a natural delivery.

This choice led to oxygen deprivation during birth, resulting in severe brain damage.

Due to this medical negligence, the child now suffers from intellectual disability, chronic neurological issues, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. These conditions have required special schooling, as the child is unable to attend a standard school.

Now 12 years old, the child will require occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and speech therapy in the future, potentially for the rest of their life, as well as ongoing support.