A 52-year-old health visitor was found guilty of gross professional negligence in a case involving a baby's death. The court in Nykøbing Falster ruled she must pay ten daily fines of 1,500 Danish kroner.
The woman worked as a municipal health visitor in Lolland Municipality. A six-week-old baby died on September 9, 2022.
Two days before the death, the health visitor had examined the child at a municipal mother-baby facility. An autopsy later revealed the infant had five skull fractures and 14 rib fractures.
The baby's mother received a 12-year prison sentence for murder in 2024. The stepfather, who shared parental responsibility, got six months for complicity in gross violence through passive behavior.
Health visitors in Denmark typically conduct home visits to monitor newborn development. This case raises questions about whether proper protocols were followed during the infant's examination.
The conviction highlights systemic challenges in child protection services. It shows how multiple failures can lead to tragic outcomes despite existing safeguards.