Scandal surrounding the medical officer: Court dismisses lawsuit against mortuary examination!

Scandal surrounding the medical officer: Court dismisses lawsuit against mortuary examination!

A dispute of a special kind is sweeping through the offices in the Stendal district. At the center of the conflict is the former medical officer Iris Schubert, who is suing the Stendal district before the Magdeburg administrative court. Their goal: to regain permission to conduct second post-mortem examinations for the local crematorium. She had carried out these post-mortem examinations for many years and, according to District Administrator Patrick Puhlmann, even earned more income than her civil servant salary. Puhlmann reported irregularities and accused Schubert of essentially giving herself permission for this secondary activity, which led to her being transferred to the district administration of the Bördekreis with a penalty. A lawsuit against the rejection of Schubert's application has now been accepted by the Naumburg Higher Administrative Court and at the same time the district itself has sued to bring information about her secondary employment to light. This dispute did not remain without consequences; Schubert has filed an appeal and is now waiting for a decision.

How did this conflict come about? District Administrator Patrick Puhlmann, who took office during the corona pandemic, initially worked closely with the medical officer. But she soon had difficulties communicating with him. After a misleading presentation of the number of deaths, Schubert was muzzled and there were administrative complaints. Puhlmann accuses the medical officer of having carried out post mortem examinations without authorization for over two decades and of having earned more money as a result than in her main job. A criminal complaint against Schubert was dropped by the Stendal public prosecutor's office, but the district administrator indicates that all allegations have not yet been fully investigated. A procedure to clarify aspects of employment law is pending, which may further test the relationship between Schubert and Puhlmann.

Regulations and challenges in post-mortem examinations

As part of the funeral law of Saxony-Anhalt, postmortem examinations are required by law. Every corpse must be examined by a doctor to determine the death and the circumstances surrounding it. Doctors involved in these procedures must also adhere to strict regulations. They are obliged to carry out the post mortem examination immediately and this must take place at the place where the body is located. If there are indications of an unnatural death, the police will be contacted. In addition, special regulations must be observed to ensure that the cause of death is correctly determined and documented. These legal bases are also the reason why authorization for post-mortem examinations is so important - it ensures both the legality and traceability of these sensitive investigations.

But what does that mean for the Stendal district? There is currently a gap in the regulations here, as the district states that for a long time there was no approval for the mortuary examination by trained doctors. This makes the urgency of clarifying the case clear, not only for Iris Schubert, who wants to return to her job, but also for the proper conduct of the postmortem in the entire district. The dispute is not only brought to the judge's seat, but also touches on essential health and legal issues for the citizens in the district.

The coming months could be decisive in determining how the situation develops. Iris Schubert is combative and really wants to return to her old job. The district, on the other hand, intends to do everything necessary to ensure transparency about the secondary activities. The public remains excited about what will follow.