Westland woman Mona never got to grow up with her own biological family. Herøy municipality and the Ministry of Health and Care are responsible for that. Today, her lawyer will send her statement to the Oslo district court, and thus it will apparently be a trial. – We will go to court because someone must be held accountable for this gross violation of human rights that has occurred. Neither the municipality nor the ministry has done that so far and then it is up to the court to make a decision, says lawyer Kristine Aarre Hånes. They have received answers from both the Ministry of Health and Care and Herøy municipality that they do not acknowledge responsibility and then the next step is to take the mood before the district court, says the lawyer. Brought home with the wrong mother Mona believes the municipality and the state have breached Article 8 of the ECHR, cf. Article 13, because she first brought the wrong mother home from the maternity hospital, and later because no one told about it afterwards. Earlier this winter, news told the incredible story of Mona who was changed in the delivery room at Eggesbønes in Herøy. Without her realizing it, the woman she called mom was not her biological mother at all. But while Mona was completely unaware, there were several others who knew what had happened. Around 100 babies were born each year here at the health center in Herøy in the 50s and 60s. Some of them were confused. Photo: Hans-Olav Landsverk / news – Can’t comment Old documents show that it was Mona’s biological mother who first discovered what had happened. At the time, the changed girls were in their teens. The Directorate of Health concluded by advising the biological mother to let her life go on. As a result, Mona did not learn that her mother had been looking for her. Nor did the municipal management in Herøy make contact with her. The municipal superintendent, who at the time kept in contact with the directorate, will not comment on the case to news. Acting municipal director Sølvi Lillebø Remøy says they have not yet seen the mood and currently have little to say. – We have to see what is written there, and then both we and the lawyer have to assess what can be said after that, she says. – Would the municipality handle such a case differently today? – I can hardly comment on that, I simply cannot comment on that, she says. The Ministry of Health and Care has so far not responded to news about the mood. Acting municipal director Sølvi Lillebø Remøy in Herøy initially has little to say about the atmosphere. Photo: Hans-Olav Landsverk / news The Directorate of Health has previously apologized for the error that occurred. Before Christmas, division director Helen Brandstorp apologized. – To Mona, I want to apologize in the strongest possible terms. I get moved when I talk about it, actually. This must be a great burden for Mona, she said then. Division director Helen Brandstorp in the Norwegian Directorate of Health has previously apologized for the error that occurred. Photo: Oddgeir Øystese / news Several switching cases In retrospect, it has turned out that Mona was not the only one to be switched in the maternity ward at Eggesbønes. There were several babies who were briefly confused in the delivery room. A total of 14 families are said to have been involved in various confusions in the 50s and 60s. The management of the Herøy sanitation association, which runs the maternity ward, says the case has important implications for the local community as well. – This has clearly become a big topic of conversation lately. Firstly, people are starting to think about whether some of them have been affected by it, and secondly, there is no hiding the fact that there has been a lot of discussion about who the change has taken place with, said leader Olaug Andreassen to news before Christmas. Olaug Andreassen is the leader of the Herøy sanitation association. She says many people are preoccupied with the case. Photo: Øyvind Berge Sæbjørnsen / news Cut contact For Mona herself, the case has become a big burden. She has no contact with either the mother she grew up with or her biological mother. Both fathers are dead and she herself has decided to change her name. She and the lawyer have previously demanded compensation from the municipality and the state, without succeeding. By all accounts, there will now be a trial. The woman demands compensation from both the municipality and the state. – We leave it up to the court to decide the amount, but it concerns both a restitution amount and compensation for the expenses and outlays she has incurred in the case, says lawyer Hånes. In addition to legal expenses, the woman has changed her social security number and thus had to get a new passport and driver’s license. In the room on the far right, Mona was born sometime in the 60s. Photo: Oddgeir Øystese / news HeyHey! If you have tips or input, please get in touch!
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Mona goes to court to get compensation, was changed in the delivery room at Eggesbønes – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
