We demand truth and justice for Jan Antonio – against medical malpractice and institutional silence.

We want the public to know what happened in these public hospitals—and how both the Ministry of Justice and the hospitals are covering up these events.

My name is Lola Herrero, and I was born in Valladolid, Spain. I lived in Madrid until 2009. In 2010, I moved to Bochum, Germany. I met my husband Mark in Madrid in 2009, and in 2013 we moved to Winsen/Luhe, Germany.

In 2014, I became pregnant, and during the 39 weeks of pregnancy, I developed a deep and loving bond with my baby. Everything seemed perfect for both of us.

On July 5, 2015, at around 12:30 a.m., my amniotic sac broke, and I immediately went to Winsen/Luhe Hospital.

There, around 1:30 a.m., a midwife administered a labor-suppressing medication (tocolytic) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tocolytic without consulting a doctor, which delayed the birth by up to 30 hours. Without this intervention, a natural birth likely would have occurred.

Later that day, again without medical consultation, the midwives began inducing labor around 1:30 p.m. using a herbal mixture containing alcohol. It wasn’t until 17 hours later, at around 6:00 a.m. the next morning, that a cesarean section was performed—resulting in a total delay of approximately 30 hours.

As a result of this prolonged and mismanaged labor, our son suffered a brain hemorrhage and severe acidosis. He was transferred to the Hospital in Lüneburg, where he received an overdose of the toxic antibiotics Gentamicin and Ampicillin for six consecutive days—despite having no bacterial infection. These medications caused internal bleeding and ultimately respiratory failure. Our son died on the seventh day after his birth.

We were never informed about the administration of these medications, nor was our consent ever obtained.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office in Lüneburg initiated an investigation for negligent homicide, but failed to review the patient records or conduct toxicological tests. The case was closed without proper investigation.

My husband and I then conducted our own independent inquiry in Lüneburg to uncover the cause of death. After reviewing the patient files and medical reports, we discovered that our son had received a continuous overdose of Gentamicin and Ampicillin over six days—despite being free of infection or other medical conditions. This overdose directly caused his death on the seventh day.

We have received no meaningful response from the hospitals or the German legal system. We feel helpless, and with this petition we express our deep concern. We also worry about the safety of pregnant women and newborns in Winsen/Luhe and the surrounding areas.

During our five-day stay at the hospital, we witnessed other mothers and babies suffering similar injuries. At the local cemetery, we saw many graves of babies who had died during or shortly after birth. We believe that dozens of babies may have died due to prolonged labor and negligent care.

Pregnant women enter hospitals in a vulnerable and fragile state, hoping to feel safe and to receive appropriate care for themselves and their babies. Instead, we were mistreated—and in some cases, babies are dying needlessly. Yet the police, the prosecutors, and the German legal system remain silent and inactive.

We filed a criminal complaint with the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Lüneburg, based on our suspicion of medical malpractice and wrongful death. This complaint was also dismissed.

We have also found that many other patients treated at Winsen/Luhe Hospital have shared similar complaints online, but these are ignored by the hospital.

 
With this petition, we are calling for the following actions:

🔹 In Lower Saxony, Germany:
We call on the state government to establish an independent commission of external medical experts from other federal states to investigate the death of our son, other newborn deaths, and instances of medical mistreatment in the Winsen/Luhe region.

🔹 In Germany as a whole:
We call on the Federal Government and the Members of the Bundestag to pass protective laws for pregnant women, newborns, and patients. We also demand criminal legislation to address and prevent medical malpractice that endangers lives.

🔹 In the European Union:
We appeal to the European Parliament to pass EU-wide laws and establish agreements with member states to ensure better protection for pregnant women, babies, and patients.

🔹 For a European oversight mechanism:
We call for the creation of an EU-wide independent and centralized regulatory body based in Brussels, dedicated to handling complaints from pregnant women, parents, and patients. This body should operate as an SOS hotline and online reporting system, available 24/7, 365 days a year.

 
If you have experienced something similar, or would like to support our cause, please contact us at:

📧 janantoniosh@gmail.com

Please help us ensure that Jan Antonio’s story is not forgotten—and that no more families have to go through what we endured.