Scandal in Nordhausen: Unauthorized therapy and sexual assault!

Scandal in Nordhausen: Unauthorized therapy and sexual assault!

In a shocking turn of events, a therapist at a child and adolescent psychiatry practice near Nordhausen is accused of working without a license. Mr. B. is said to have behaved unprofessionally and sent inappropriate messages to patients. A 20-year-old patient named Marie Pfennig* reported that he gave her his private cell phone number for “emergencies” and invited her to a private meeting. This is just one of several serious allegations pointing to sexual abuse. Another patient, only 15 years old, describes that Mr. B. persuaded her to meet outside the practice, where he touched her inappropriately. These situations cause waves in the community.

The police investigation is already underway. The Nordhausen State Police Department is aware of several cases; many patients have already filed a complaint. The responsible licensing authority has confirmed that Mr. B. submitted an application for a license to practice medicine, but that the required documents were not submitted on time, which has serious consequences. According to the report by MDR The Thuringian State Medical Association has already taken action and has filed a criminal complaint against Mr. B. as well as a professional investigation against the doctor Dr. Franziska S. introduced.

The role of practice

The role of Dr. is exciting. Franziska S., who left the therapy sessions to Mr. B. On top of that, there is the suspicion that she billed the health insurance companies for Mr. B.'s hours, even though he does not have a license to practice medicine. Dr. S. has lost her license since mid-October, but can still bill privately. Due to the ongoing proceedings, her lawyer is not commenting on the allegations, which further complicates the situation. Recently, Mr. B. was listed as a “psychologist” on the practice’s website, information that has since been removed.

The Thuringian State Medical Association has made it clear that psychological activities in connection with medical conditions are subject to the doctor's approval. This underlines the importance of the license to practice medicine, which is required for professional approval in psychotherapy. According to the information from DGSF A license enables child and adolescent psychotherapists to care for their patients professionally and legally.

The status of the investigation

The investigation is currently gaining momentum. The police have taken the incidents seriously and are investigating in all directions. It remains to be hoped that the people responsible will be held accountable. This could also lead to a review of the regulations to ensure that such a situation can be prevented in the future. The case is also in the context of a broader discussion about licensing training in systemic therapy, which has been legally recognized since 2008, as the DGSF reports.

At a time when the pressure on the healthcare sector is high and the demands on professionals are constantly increasing, it is crucial that the challenges in ensuring the quality and protection of patients in the field of psychotherapy are taken seriously. The ongoing investigation and subsequent actions could represent an important step in the right direction.

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