Paediatrician in Germany charged with 130 counts of sexual abuse

"German prosecutors have charged a paediatrician with 130 counts of sexual abuse, including the rape of children, most of them in his care, in a case that has caused shock and prompted clinics to step up safeguards for young people."

"The 46-year-old doctor, whose name has not been released, has been in custody since November after a mother suspected an assault against her child and notified authorities. The doctor worked in clinics in Brandenburg state, surrounding Berlin. Announcing the charges this week, prosecutors said the alleged crimes were committed between 2013 and 2025."

"The doctor is alleged to have committed most of the offences in the course of his professional duties at clinics operated by the Havelland healthcare group in the Brandenburg towns of Rathenow and Nauen. The accused remains in pre-trial detention, the statement said, adding that the charges were brought on 6 May. A regional court in Potsdam will now decide whether to proceed to trial."

"It had emerged that the four-eyes protocol, under which two people must be present during an examination of a child, had not always been respected, it said. The allegations undermine the trust of patients and their families, the group's medical director, Mike Lehsnau, said."

German prosecutors have charged a 46-year-old paediatrician with 130 counts of sexual abuse of children, including rape. The alleged offences occurred between 2013 and 2025 and involve crimes against sexual autonomy in cases prosecutors say were committed mostly during the doctor’s professional duties at clinics in Brandenburg. The doctor has been in pre-trial custody since November after a mother reported a suspected assault. Investigators seized data storage devices believed to contain relevant images. The Havelland healthcare group previously conducted an internal review after the case became known, and reported that a four-eyes protocol for child examinations was not always followed. A regional court in Potsdam will decide whether the case proceeds to trial.

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