Newborn dies during birth at Lubaczów hospital; prosecutors open investigation

In brief

• A newborn died during delivery at the Lubaczów County Hospital in Podkarpackie province.
• The mother is 19 years old, and the pregnancy was full term.
• Prosecutors opened an investigation on 28 October 2026 into possible negligence by hospital staff.
• The cause of death is still unknown, and no charges have been filed.

Investigation opened after newborn death

Prosecutors in Lubaczów, in Podkarpackie province, have launched an investigation into the death of a baby during delivery at the Lubaczów County Hospital. The case was opened on 28 October 2026. According to the prosecutor's office, the proceedings concern possible exposure of the 19-year-old patient and her child to a direct risk of loss of life or serious harm to health, as well as possible unintentional causing of death (Noworodek nie przeżył porodu. Prokuratura wszczęła śledztwo - – Onet) (Dramat na porodówce w Lubaczowie. Nie żyje dziecko 19-letniej pacjentki. Było zdrowe – Medonet). Prosecutor Małgorzata Taciuch-Kurasiewicz, spokesperson for the regional prosecutor's office in Przemyśl, which oversees the Lubaczów unit, said investigators are checking whether hospital staff properly cared for the mother and the newborn.

Pregnancy full-term, baby reported healthy

An autopsy found the pregnancy had reached full term and the baby had developed normally (19-latka straciła dziecko podczas porodu. Co się wydarzyło? Tragedia w szpitalu na Podkarpaciu - Rzeszów Radio ESKA – rzeszow.eska.pl) (Koszmar na porodówce w Lubaczowie. Szpital pod lupą śledczych – Wirtualna Polska). Despite this, the infant did not survive the delivery. The cause of death has not been established, and investigators have ordered further tests because the first post-mortem examination did not explain it.

Medical records secured, witness questioned

Prosecutors have secured the full medical file of the 19-year-old and questioned the person who reported the case. No charges have been brought against anyone, and investigators have not said whether medical error occurred. The probe is focused on the actions, or omissions, of the medical team during labour and birth.