Can’t be parted …. the two children swapped at birth have become too attached to the parents who raised them, a report says. Source: Supplied
TWO children accidentally swapped at birth should stay with the families who raised them and not be returned to their biological parents, a report says.
In a heartbreaking case that has shocked South Africa, the two children — a boy and a girl now aged 4 — were taken home from the Johannesburg hospital by the wrong parents after a nurse mixed up their identities.
The babies were apparently swapped when a “busy” midwife mixed up their name tags.
Incredibly, the families were unaware of the mistake until one of the mothers underwent DNA tests after her ex-husband refused to pay child maintenance and demanded a paternity test, sowetanlive.co.za reported.
Devastated beyond belief … the baby-swap case has left the families traumatised. Source: Supplied
But the tests revealed that not only was he not the child’s father, the woman was not the mother.
The medical expert appointed to investigate the case said the woman’s shock was so great “she was almost hit by two cars on her way home”.
Dr Ann Skelton, who was appointed by the Pretoria High Court in May to investigate the best outcome to the case, said the children’s bonds with the mothers who were raising them was “very strong”.
“The recommendation is that the children should stay with the parents who have raised them and should also be permitted to have contact with their biological parents,” she said.
The case had left the families traumatised and one of the fathers compared the devastating blunder as similar to the loss of his limbs.
Mother’s love … the children’s bonds with the parents who are raising them is “very strong”. Source: Supplied
“They see her as their own child, are firmly bonded with her, and (the father) also referred to traditional ceremonies and family acceptance as reasons why ‘giving away’ their child is unthinkable to him,” Dr Skelton said.
The parents will be offered the opportunity to respond to the recommendations and will agree on a court date to consider the findings.
Originally published as Babies swapped in hospital nightmare