In a sensational court case in the Oslo district court, documentation is presented this week that two baby girls were switched at a birthing center in Sunnmøre in 1965. The big question is why both the municipality and the state decided to put a lid on the case. This meant that over 50 years passed before the two mothers and the two babies found out what had happened. Kristine Aarre Hånes represents one of the switched babies, a now 59-year-old woman. Photo: Oddgeir Øystese / news – It was a serious mistake that had disastrous consequences, especially for the two girls who were handed over to foreign families, said Kristine Aarre Hånes in her introductory speech in court on Monday. In courtroom 818, one of the biological mothers is now sitting together with her previously unknown, biological daughter. On the bench in front of his daughter, who grew up in the home, but didn’t actually belong to the family. All three will appear in court later this week. Linda Risvik Gotaas (in the middle) did not know that she grew up in a foreign family. Here she sits with her lawyer, Bjørn Rener-Larsen. Lawyer Sølvi Nyvoll Tangen on the right, mother’s lawyer Karen Dokken. Photo: Oddgeir Øystese / news Investigated whether the children looked like their parents No one suspected that something wrong had happened until 1983. Then a surprising blood test from one of the mothers showed that she could not be the mother of the child she had at home. But there was little help to be had from the municipality where the change had taken place. In secret, the municipality and the state decided to launch an extensive, secret survey. It focused on the six babies who were born in the delivery room in February 1965. Among other things, it was documented whether they resembled the families they lived with and whether it was likely that they could be switched. The goal was to find out who could be replaced. The conclusion is that two girls who were born four hours apart on 14 and 15 February have been sent home with the wrong families. Mothers who have asked questions are asked to remain silent. As a result, none of the other parties involved will know. The birth announcements in Sunnmørsposten show that several babies were born in the maternity ward in mid-February 1965. Photo: FACSIMILE FROM SUNNMØRSPOSTEN – Didn’t know there was a document Almost 40 years go by. It is only coincidence that finally reveals the great secret. In 2021, one of the switched babies discovers that she has several unknown relatives. She has now grown up and can be found on the website My Heritage. But neither now does the municipality want to say anything about the matter. In a letter signed by the municipal superintendent, the municipality rejects the case: “We are not aware that there are documents from the 90s or that there are cases dealing with changing babies, so we are groping a bit ‘blind’. I’m afraid I can’t help you further now.” Only after extensive correspondence did the state and the municipality admit that a change had taken place, and that they were aware of this. Herøy municipality is represented by lawyers Øyvind Vartdal Riise and Reidar Andresen. Behind is municipal director Trond Aglen. Photo: Oddgeir Øystese / news Demand up to 20 million Now one of the mothers and both of the swapped children are going to court against the state and the municipality. They are demanding up to NOK 20 million in compensation for the error that has occurred: the swapping of the babies in 1965, the decision in the 80s not to tell the families about what had happened The three women want compensation and compensation for violations of human rights, for lost childhood and family life. And they want the state and the municipality to admit that they have done something wrong. 78-year-old Karen Rafteseth Dokken in the Oslo District Court. Photo: Oddgeir Øystese / news – Difficult assessments Neither the municipality nor the state will take responsibility in the matter. The lawyers believe that it is not possible to prove who confused the babies, that the cases are outdated anyway, and that no one is entitled to compensation. Lawyer Asgeir Nygård at the Government Attorney and the municipality’s lawyer, Reidar Andresen, does not wish to comment on the case now. Published 11.11.2024, at 15.17
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