A 60-year-old Japanese man has been awarded approximately S$500,000 in compensation after a shocking hospital error saw him switched at birth and raised in poverty, while the child meant to be in his place grew up in luxury.
The incident, which occurred nearly six decades ago in Tokyo’s San-Ikukai Hospital, only came to light in 2009 after suspicions arose in a wealthy family when one of their sons appeared physically different from his siblings. DNA testing confirmed their fears—he was not biologically related. That discovery sparked a deeper investigation, which led to a second DNA test and ultimately revealed that the two babies had been switched shortly after birth by a hospital staff member who mistakenly returned them to the wrong mothers after bathing them.
Life-Altering Error
The man, whose identity remains private, lived most of his life in hardship. Raised by a widow in a small, under-equipped apartment, he grew up with two siblings and relied on welfare support in his youth. He eventually became a truck driver, never knowing his affluent biological parents.
“I feel regret and also anger,” he told the media while keeping his face hidden to protect his anonymity. “I want them to turn back the clock.”
On the other side, the baby who had been mistakenly given to the wealthy family was brought up with privilege. He was the eldest of four siblings, received private tuition, and later ran his own real estate business—an entirely different path from the life of poverty the other man endured.
Emotional Aftermath and Legal Ruling
In 2013, a Tokyo court ordered San-Ikukai Hospital to pay ¥38 million (about S$500,000) to the man who had been deprived of the life he was supposed to have. Although he initially sought ¥250 million (around S$3.3 million), the court’s ruling recognised the deep emotional trauma he suffered.
Judge Masatoshi Miyasaka noted that the pain caused by the lifelong separation from his true parents and the missed opportunity to form a genuine parent-child bond was immeasurable.
After learning the truth in 2011, the man began meeting his biological brothers for monthly drinks. He also continues to care for the elder brother he grew up with, showing a poignant sense of loyalty to the only family he had ever known until the switch was uncovered.
Uncovering the Truth Years Later
The mix-up, only uncovered due to a moment of suspicion within the wealthy family, highlights the emotional and psychological scars such medical errors can leave. The impoverished man recalled the overwhelming feeling of seeing his real parents’ photo for the first time. “Every time I see their photograph, for several months, tears would well up,” he shared.
This tragic story is not only a case of mistaken identity but also a powerful reminder of the far-reaching consequences of medical negligence. For decades, two lives were lived under false pretences—one of deprivation, the other of privilege—all due to a momentary lapse in hospital procedure.