Mother Accuses Kadaň Maternity Hospital of Missing Newborn's Glaucoma, Demands 16 Million Crowns

A woman from Kadaň is demanding nearly 16 million crowns in compensation from a local hospital, claiming that doctors ignored clear signs of congenital glaucoma in her newborn son and lost precious time for treatment. The boy, named Milan, was diagnosed only several weeks after birth, and in early 2024, at just 2.5 months old, he had to undergo complex surgery on his left eye at Prague's Motol Hospital.

Congenital glaucoma in children is rare — the disease usually develops later in life. It causes elevated intraocular pressure that damages the optic nerve, leading to deteriorating vision and potentially complete blindness. Nerve damage is irreversible even with modern medicine, which is why early detection and lowering eye pressure are crucial.

Mother Says She Warned Staff

According to the mother, Šárka B. (full name known to the editors but withheld at her request), she noticed something was wrong with her son's left eye just hours after birth and reported it to the staff at the Kadaň maternity hospital. "I told them directly that the left eye looked different from the right. It was cloudy, milky-grey," the woman recalls.

She says a thorough eye examination was never carried out, even at discharge. A nurse allegedly took the baby into the bathroom for less than thirty seconds and immediately handed him back to his mother. Once home, the woman discovered that the discharge summary stated everything was fine with the eyes — and she is convinced this conclusion had been written down even before her son was actually "examined."

Karolína Odlasová, spokesperson for the Kadaň hospital, has rejected the negligence claims. According to her, the boy was examined daily by a doctor, and none of the staff noticed anything unusual about the color of his eye. The child underwent screening tests, including one for congenital cataracts, which came back normal — while screening for congenital glaucoma is not standard practice at all. An internal hospital investigation in April this year found no failures in the care provided.

Diagnosis Only Made in Prague

After discharge, the mother turned to her local pediatrician and then to an ophthalmologist, who immediately referred the family to specialists. Medical records reviewed by the editorial team confirm that the doctor noted a clouded cornea in Milan and recorded that the mother had reported the unusual eye color back at the maternity hospital.

It was this referral that led Milan to specialists at Prague's Motol Hospital, where he was diagnosed and soon operated on. The boy is now under constant medical supervision and requires ongoing treatment. The exact extent of the nerve damage and its impact on his vision cannot yet be determined due to his young age — doctors say a more accurate assessment will only be possible around age eight.

16-Million-Crown Lawsuit Awaits Expert Review

"We have to watch over our son constantly. Any injury or blow to the head could seriously damage his eye," the mother says. The boy also cannot cry intensely or for long periods, as this raises intraocular pressure. The woman does not expect any significant improvement in the future and has already filed a police report.

Miroslava Hlogovská, spokesperson for the Chomutov police, confirmed that a case is underway investigating suspected failure to provide adequate care at the hospital, though details cannot yet be disclosed due to laws protecting the confidentiality of pre-trial investigations.

Attorney Petra Zaoralová, who represents the mother, said the family is currently seeking compensation from the hospital for pain and suffering, reduced social adaptation, and care-related expenses — totaling roughly 16 million crowns. She says the plaintiff's side has evidence raising serious doubts about whether the medical care provided in Kadaň was adequate, but a final determination on whether the doctors' actions met required standards must come from an independent expert. That assessment is what everyone is now waiting for.

Around Prague, based on reporting by seznamzpravy.cz