Two South African women whose babies were accidentally switched at birth six years ago are suing authorities for thousands of rands (dollars) in damages but want to keep their non-biological sons.
Margaret Clinton-Parker and Sandra Dawkins began legal action in the Rand Supreme Court in Johannesburg on Monday demanding damages of more than 120,000 rands ($33,000) each from provincial authorities, court officials said on Tuesday.The women claim hospital staff at Nigel hospital, east of Johannesburg, were negligent in causing the babies to be swapped around in February 1989.
Both women told the court they had decided to keep the respective boys they had raised after extensive consultations with psychiatrists.
Dawkins and Clinton-Parker testified they had formed deep bonds with their non-biological sons.
Psychiatrist David Shevel told the court the women had both suffered from anxiety and depression.
"This situation, whatever solution is eventually decided on, will have lifelong repercussions on both women and their sons."