Karlovy Vary region agrees on advance payment for paralysed woman

The regional council in Karlovy Vary, west Bohemia, has agreed on an advance payment of two million crowns to a Czech woman, Zuzana Rokosova, who was paralysed after undergoing a medical procedure at a local hospital in 2003. Regional councillors agreed on the payment for Mrs Rokosova, despite the fact the region has appealed a court decision in February awarding the woman 17 million crowns - the equivalent of around 800,000 US dollars. The governor indicated on Thursday the region did not want to complicate matters for her or her husband, but the region chose to appeal mainly because of contradictory assessments in the case. Mrs Rokosova's husband was not available for comment, but reportedly would like to build a home with special facilities for his wife so she will not be confined to an institution.