Claimants double suit in baby heart case

New claimants have doubled the cash amount of a lawsuit against Green Lane Hospital for keeping babies' hearts without consent.

The case was due to return to the High Court at Wellington this week to set a hearing date, but that has now been postponed until November to allow Wellington lawyer John Miller to deal with the new families wanting to join the action.

The number of families claiming $90,000 each in damages has more than doubled to 105, bringing the total claimed to $9.45 million.


The hospital admitted in 2002 that it had more than 1300 hearts, mostly from children and babies, dating back more than 50 years. Many were taken without permission.