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It's a lousy hand to be dealt, but I don't see how he deserves to take 317k from a charitable organization over it. Everyone else who is born poor just has to l

It's a lousy hand to be dealt, but I don't see how he deserves to take 317k from a charitable organization over it. Everyone else who is born poor just has to live with it. But he gets free money because he has the genetics of rich people who never met him nor even knew of his existence. The one case I could legitimately see being made for harm to the child caused by being switched at birth is if there is some sort of genetic disease that they could have had diagnosed or treated sooner if they knew their birth parents. Not going to a fancy private school isn't harm though, it's just lack of privilege.

Maken 9y ago
I would argue that the Japanese justice system has either to accept that the hospital violated this man's right to enjoy his parents' money, or to rule against inheritances at all.
spinlock 9y ago
Hospitals have insurance for malpractice. My friend is an OBGYN so he gets sued every time a baby is born with complications. His view on it is that the family needs money to care for the child and the only way for them to get it is through his malpractice insurance. But, what do you think the difference in net-worth is between these two men? I don't think the hospital is to blame that one of these children was going to have the best education and the other wouldn't but you have to blame them to get the insurance payout. Plus, maybe the truck driver will do something like start a scholarship. In that case, I'd hope he gets much more than $300k.
jbob2000 9y ago
I am tempted to agree with you, but put yourself in his shoes. Being poor is a trap that you cannot get out of by yourself, it is incredibly frustrating. Along comes his ticket out of shitsville and you expect him to just pass?
- sudosteph 9y ago
  Oh, I don't blame him for trying for it. Anyone would. I just don't know if he should have been awarded money based on not attending private schools that most people wouldn't have been able to attend anyhow.
  - jbob2000 9y ago
    I think that's just what he hung the case on because it had quantifiable value. How else do you quantify a life of missed opportunities?
chapill 9y ago
>It's a lousy hand to be dealt, but I don't see how he deserves to take 317k from a charitable organization over it. Most US hospitals are non-profit "charitable organizations" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-profit_hospital https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-profit_hospital They should all be allowed to mix up children with no penalty? Odd stance you have there. I'm sure most Americans will disagree with you.

Maken 9y ago

I would argue that the Japanese justice system has either to accept that the hospital violated this man's right to enjoy his parents' money, or to rule against inheritances at all.

spinlock 9y ago

Hospitals have insurance for malpractice. My friend is an OBGYN so he gets sued every time a baby is born with complications. His view on it is that the family needs money to care for the child and the only way for them to get it is through his malpractice insurance. But, what do you think the difference in net-worth is between these two men? I don't think the hospital is to blame that one of these children was going to have the best education and the other wouldn't but you have to blame them to get the insurance payout. Plus, maybe the truck driver will do something like start a scholarship. In that case, I'd hope he gets much more than $300k.

jbob2000 9y ago

I am tempted to agree with you, but put yourself in his shoes. Being poor is a trap that you cannot get out of by yourself, it is incredibly frustrating. Along comes his ticket out of shitsville and you expect him to just pass?

sudosteph 9y ago
Oh, I don't blame him for trying for it. Anyone would. I just don't know if he should have been awarded money based on not attending private schools that most people wouldn't have been able to attend anyhow.
- jbob2000 9y ago
  I think that's just what he hung the case on because it had quantifiable value. How else do you quantify a life of missed opportunities?

chapill 9y ago

>It's a lousy hand to be dealt, but I don't see how he deserves to take 317k from a charitable organization over it. Most US hospitals are non-profit "charitable organizations" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-profit_hospital https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-profit_hospital They should all be allowed to mix up children with no penalty? Odd stance you have there. I'm sure most Americans will disagree with you.