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Prosecutors allege doctor abused children over 12 years while working in hospitals near Berlin
Step Rights Magazine
German prosecutors have charged a paediatrician with 130 counts of rape and other serious sexual offences involving children in one of the country’s most disturbing medical abuse investigations in recent years.
The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed under German privacy laws, is accused of committing the offences over a period of 12 years while employed by the healthcare provider Havelland Kliniken in Brandenburg state, near Berlin.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Potsdam public prosecutor’s office said the 46-year-old doctor faces multiple charges including aggravated sexual abuse of children and rape.
“The accused is charged with 130 counts of sexual offences,” prosecutors said, adding that many of the alleged crimes were committed while the suspect was carrying out his professional duties at clinics in Rathenow and Nauen.
According to investigators, the alleged offences occurred between December 1, 2013 and November 5, 2025.
Authorities did not disclose the exact number of children believed to have been abused, but confirmed that the suspect remains in pretrial detention pending further court proceedings.
The charges were formally filed on May 6 before the case was transferred to the regional court in Potsdam, the capital of Brandenburg state.
German newspaper Bild reported that the investigation began after the mother of a young female patient at a hospital in Rathenow alerted police in November 2025.
Investigators later seized numerous electronic storage devices during the course of the probe as authorities widened the investigation.
Growing Concerns Over Abuse Within Trusted Institutions
The allegations have reignited concerns across Europe about sexual abuse committed within institutions entrusted with the care of children, particularly hospitals, schools and religious organisations.
Child-protection advocates say such cases often involve long periods of silence due to fear, manipulation, trauma and the authority held by offenders in professional environments.
The German case has also drawn comparisons to the high-profile prosecution of retired French surgeon Joel Le Scouarnec, who was sentenced in May 2025 to 20 years imprisonment after admitting to sexually abusing or raping hundreds of patients over several decades.
French prosecutors said more than 250 of Le Scouarnec’s victims were under the age of 15.
Legal and Human Rights Perspective
Legal experts say the German investigation underscores the importance of safeguarding systems within healthcare institutions and the need for stronger reporting and oversight mechanisms where children are involved.
Human-rights organisations across Europe have increasingly called for:
- enhanced background checks for medical professionals,
- mandatory abuse-reporting systems,
- trauma support for victims,
- and stronger institutional accountability where abuse is concealed or ignored.
The case is expected to attract significant public attention as prosecutors prepare to present evidence before the regional court in Potsdam.