A 19-year-old born in Logroño, Spain, claims compensation of over three million euros for being exchanged at birth with another person and growing up in a family other than biological. This is the sensational case unveiled by the local newspaper La Rioja (also name of the region where the events took place) and then reported by the national media.
According to reports, the two girls were born on the same day in a now disused hospital in Logroño. The newborn girls were incubated prior to contact with their respective mothers; the exchange would take place after that stage.
However, it took 15 years before one of the two involved - whose identity has not been made public - became aware of the mistake. And it was due to a judicial dispute initiated by his (theoretical) grandmother against his father (who was also not biological): the woman, who had been in charge of the child's protection, had accused him of not passing alimony to the child. The man refused to do so, saying she was not his daughter. DNA analyzes ordered by a court confirmed that version.
The girl, realizing that she was exchanged at birth, then started a legal battle to be recognized for the damage suffered. The request for three million is currently frozen because justice is awaiting an examination of the DNA of the possible biological father, explains the newspaper La Rioja. The probable biological mother died in 2018.
According to El País, the other 19-year-old involved in the affair was informed of the facts, but her position on the matter was not disclosed. The regional councilor for health of La Rioja, Sara Alba, told reporters that the exchange was caused by "human error" but "it was not possible" to identify the person responsible.
