Paris Court Upholds Partial Compensation for Mother Paralyzed During Childbirth
Paris, France – A Paris administrative court has ruled in favor of a mother who suffered paralysis in both legs following a complication during a cesarean section, though the awarded compensation remains significantly less than she sought. The ruling, dated September 23, 2025, and recently made public, details the woman’s legal battle with Oniam, the French association responsible for compensating victims of medical accidents when establishing liability of healthcare providers proves difficult.
The mother experienced an “extraordinary complication of the perimedullary anesthesia” administered during childbirth,resulting in a spinal cord injury and permanent functional deficit estimated at over 60%. She initially requested a “provision” of 150,000 euros to cover future compensation for her damages. A summary judge initially awarded 45,056 euros in September 2024, a figure both parties appealed. Oniam offered a maximum of 32,000 euros.
The court of appeal ultimately increased the “provision” to 49,118.56 euros, acknowledging the “conditions of abnormality and seriousness” of the injury and establishing Oniam’s liability.
The awarded funds are intended to help cover the costs of adaptive equipment, including a wheelchair, a standing chair, a bath lift, and a terrace access ramp, all documented in an occupational therapist’s report. However, the court denied compensation for “purchases of protections and wipes” related to vesico-sphincter disorders, citing insufficient documentation - only a single receipt was provided.
Further complicating the mother’s situation is her housing. Following her delivery, she was initially hospitalized for over a year. Upon returning home in February 2023, she found her family’s 18th-floor apartment lacked an elevator and was otherwise unsuitable for a person with a disability, necessitating ongoing third-party assistance. The court acknowledged the need for this assistance.
