People are not trash bags

On Wednesday a hospital in the Czech Republic was ordered by an appeal court to pay considerable fines to two couples for having negligently interchanged their daughters shortly after they were born. The children were raised by the wrong parents for almost a year. The conservative daily Lidové Noviny agrees with the judgement: "Whether they like it or not, hospitals have to get used to the fact that human beings aren't trash bags and must not only be treated with dignity and respect, but also compensated when they are harmed. ... The clinic's behaviour was inadequate, and it can thank it's lucky stars the fine wasn't any higher. ... The statements by some psychologists that both children will have soon forgotten the whole thing is a far cry from the truth. Everyone involved will have to live with this mishap for the rest of their lives, and that can't be changed for all the money in the world."

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