Child dies from cough medicine – minimal damages

More than 200 Indonesian children died or were injured when they drank contaminated cough medicine. Now, two companies are being forced to pay compensation to the families. But the sums are low.

» Updated: September 07 2024

» Published: August 23 2024

Child dies from cough medicine – minimal damages
Photo: Achmad Ibrahim/AP/TT

Share this article

The scandal was uncovered in 2022, when a large number of children suddenly suffered from acute kidney damage after taking cough medicine.

The preparations, which were sold over-the-counter, contained high levels of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol.

About ten families of the victims sued the government, the health authority, and the companies behind the medicine. On Thursday, a court in Jakarta ruled that the companies must pay 50 million rupiah (approximately 32,000 kronor) per death and 60 million rupiah (nearly 39,000 kronor) per injured person – significantly less than the relatives had demanded.

It's sad to see the verdict. The compensation is so much lower, says Nedy Amardianto, whose ten-month-old daughter Aisha died of acute kidney failure.

The loss of a child cannot be replaced with money. But we had hoped that the judge would be on our side.

The relatives also express disappointment that the court did not address the state's responsibility in the matter.

Last year, four people, a manager and three employees of one of the two companies, were sentenced to prison for not having tested their products properly.

In Uzbekistan and Gambia, and likely in more countries, a large number of children died due to contaminated cough medicine in 2022, according to the World Health Organization.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Norway Election Polls Show Red-Green Bloc Leading Over Høyre
2 MIN READ

Norway Election Polls Show Red-Green Bloc Leading Over Høyre

Man Killed in Rare Shark Attack at Sydney's Northern Beaches
1 MIN READ

Man Killed in Rare Shark Attack at Sydney's Northern Beaches

Europe Faces Autumn Crisis Amid Trump Tensions
3 MIN READ

Europe Faces Autumn Crisis Amid Trump Tensions

Trump Proposes Hosting Next G20 Summit at His Miami Golf Club
2 MIN READ

Trump Proposes Hosting Next G20 Summit at His Miami Golf Club

Serbian Police Clash with Protesters in Novi Sad Amid Election Demands
1 MIN READ

Serbian Police Clash with Protesters in Novi Sad Amid Election Demands

Trump Engages in Talks with Hamas for Israeli Hostage Release
1 MIN READ

Trump Engages in Talks with Hamas for Israeli Hostage Release

Trump Renames Defense Department to War Department
1 MIN READ

Trump Renames Defense Department to War Department

Lebanon Military Begins Plan to Disarm Hizbollah
1 MIN READ

Lebanon Military Begins Plan to Disarm Hizbollah

Eagle S Captain Denies Intentional Damage to Baltic Sea Cables
2 MIN READ

Eagle S Captain Denies Intentional Damage to Baltic Sea Cables

Trump Deploys 10 F-35 Fighter Jets to Puerto Rico Amid Drug War
2 MIN READ

Trump Deploys 10 F-35 Fighter Jets to Puerto Rico Amid Drug War

WHO Declares Mpox No Longer a Global Health Crisis
1 MIN READ

WHO Declares Mpox No Longer a Global Health Crisis

Sweden's Foreign Minister Meets Zelenskyj to Boost Pressure on Russia
1 MIN READ

Sweden's Foreign Minister Meets Zelenskyj to Boost Pressure on Russia

IAGS Faces Backlash Over Gaza Genocide Resolution
4 MIN READ

IAGS Faces Backlash Over Gaza Genocide Resolution

UK Government Reshuffle: Angela Rayner Resigns, David Lammy Becomes Justice Minister
2 MIN READ

UK Government Reshuffle: Angela Rayner Resigns, David Lammy Becomes Justice Minister

Israeli Military Targets Gaza High-Rises Used by Hamas
1 MIN READ

Israeli Military Targets Gaza High-Rises Used by Hamas

UN Report: Congo Violence Could Be War Crimes
1 MIN READ

UN Report: Congo Violence Could Be War Crimes

Anutin Charnvirakul Elected as Thailand's New Prime Minister
1 MIN READ

Anutin Charnvirakul Elected as Thailand's New Prime Minister

Finland Joins UN Declaration for Peaceful Gaza Solution
1 MIN READ

Finland Joins UN Declaration for Peaceful Gaza Solution

Hamas Releases New Video of Israeli Hostages Amid Ongoing Conflict
2 MIN READ

Hamas Releases New Video of Israeli Hostages Amid Ongoing Conflict

Florida Moves to End All Vaccine Mandates
2 MIN READ

Florida Moves to End All Vaccine Mandates