A pediatrician charged for having hastened the death of a newborn baby at a hospital in Sweden in 2008 has been acquitted in a case closely observed by Sweden’s medical community. The 3-month-old infant girl, who was terminally ill and had serious brain damage after being born 15 weeks premature, died in 2008.

The birth was complicated and she was born unconscious due to lack of oxygen. In her third month of life, she was taken off life support in consultation with her parents. The parents filed a complaint with police a month later, alleging the baby girl was not treated properly. An autopsy revealed abnormally high doses of the anesthetic thiopental.

The doctor was charged with manslaughter. However, the court ruled that there was insufficient proof of a crime or criminal intent. In Sweden, there are few legal procedures against doctors because malpractice cases like these go before the National Board of Health and Welfare with no criminal consequences. ~ The Local (Sweden), Oct 21