processes
Doctor charged with manslaughter of patient
The accused (l) is standing in the courtroom with his lawyer Sebastian Vogel before the trial begins. photo
© Sina Schuldt/dpa
A 14-year-old fractured the base of his skull after falling off his bicycle. After a misdiagnosis, the doctor dispenses with the necessary treatment. Now the doctor has to answer in court.
Since Tuesday, a doctor has had to answer to the district court in Verden, Lower Saxony, for the negligent killing of a 14-year-old patient. The public prosecutor accuses the 53-year-old accused of not having ordered the necessary treatment of the young person after a bicycle crash in 2018 as “chief doctor on background service” in a Rotenburg clinic. The boy died of a cerebral hemorrhage the day after the accident.
Although the patient vomited blood several times, had abnormal potassium levels and complained of a very severe headache despite taking painkillers, no tests were carried out to rule out cerebral hemorrhage. The attending physician had diagnosed a concussion. In fact, the youth had suffered a fractured skull base. The attending physician had discussed the case with the chief physician by telephone.
Two residents and the chief physician were fired after the incident. The three had originally been charged with manslaughter by omission. The court did not allow this. Prosecutors then charged the three with negligent homicide.
The procedure against a doctor was dropped against payment of 12,000 euros, another has died in the meantime. The former chief physician had announced that he agreed to the termination of the procedure against payment of 13,000 euros. The public prosecutor demanded 25,000 euros. No agreement was reached and the process was opened.