Prague, Nov 15 (CTK) – The Czech Health Ministry has hailed the verdict of the European Human Rights Court which dismissed a complaint by two Czech women over home births, but it will consider possible changes concerning the issue, it said in a press release yesterday.
Zuzana Candigliota, the defence lawyer of one the two women, said the court dismissed the complaint because it supposes that the Czech state will improve childbirth care itself, not on the court’s instigation.
The complaint concerned the choice of the place of childbirth.
Both women wanted to give birth to their children at home with a midwife.
However, the midwife faces high fines unless she has the necessary certificates. The law does not make it possible for her assistance to be paid based on the mother’s health care insurance.
The complainants could not find any midwife and that is why they turned to the court complaining that the state denies them the possibility of giving birth to their children at home with a medical expert.
The Czech Health Ministry said the court “justly balanced all rights that are involved in such a sensitive sphere.”
It wrote, however, that it comprehends the court’s critical assessment of certain aspects of obstetrics.
“That is why based on a detailed study of the verdict, (the ministry) will thoroughly consider measures to be taken with the aim of improving care of Czech expectant mothers and newborn babies, and so avert further similar lawsuits,” the ministry wrote.
Candigliota said the Human Rights Court admitted that the complainants’ right to the protection of privacy and family life, which includes the right to choose the place and way of childbirth, was interfered with.
“The court called on the Czech Republic to improve the system of birth care in a way reflecting the development in the fields of law, medicine and science. The court dismissed the complaint because it presupposes changes will be made on the initiative of the state, not the court itself,” she said.
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