Prosecutors in Innsbruck have filed charges against the parents of a seven-year-old girl who was hospitalized in April 2026 in a state of severe neglect. The child weighed only 11 kilograms when she was admitted to the Innsbruck Clinic, suffering from acute life-threatening conditions. Medical examinations revealed edema across her limbs, torso, and buttocks, alongside functional impairments of her heart and kidneys.
The indictment alleges that the parents failed to provide the girl with sufficient nutrition and neglected to maintain her ability to walk or move. This lack of physical activity led to a permanent fixation of her major joints in a flexed position. By the time she reached the hospital, the girl was no longer able to use the toilet independently.
A history of medical neglect
The girl’s medical history shows signs of trouble dating back to 2023, when she required repeated inpatient treatment for an inflammatory skin disease. However, her last in-person medical visit occurred in September 2025. Following that appointment, the mother maintained contact with the family doctor only by telephone, claiming that the child's condition was generally improving.
The situation reached a breaking point in late April 2026, when the parents finally brought their daughter to the Innsbruck pediatric clinic in a stroller at the doctor's request. She was immediately admitted to the intensive care unit. While the girl is now out of danger and her health has improved, the court has since transferred custody of both the girl and her younger brother to child and youth welfare services.
Legal proceedings and expert testimony
The trial is scheduled to begin on January 4, 2027, at the Innsbruck Regional Court. To clarify the circumstances of the case, the court has obtained both forensic medical and dermatological expert opinions. The parents deny the allegations against them. If convicted, they face a prison sentence ranging from two to ten years.
