North Rhine-Westphalia: Psychiatrist denies abuse of a patient

Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) - A 63-year-old psychiatrist, as a defendant, denied in court in Düsseldorf that he had sexually abused a patient.

North Rhine-Westphalia: Psychiatrist denies abuse of a patient

Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) - A 63-year-old psychiatrist, as a defendant, denied in court in Düsseldorf that he had sexually abused a patient. The 63-year-old was a senior physician at a clinic in Essen. He admitted private meetings outside the clinic and a relationship with the now 33-year-old woman. A doctor-patient relationship no longer existed during this period, he emphasized on Thursday at the district court.

The alleged victim, a pharmacist, came to the doctor for talk therapy in March 2020. The doctor and the woman knew each other. "I've been in touch with the family for years."

As a result, according to the indictment, there were sexual assaults at several therapy meetings between April and June 2020, against the woman's will. She later filed a complaint.

During the therapy, he warded off any approach from the patient and referred her to a colleague for further treatment, the accused said.

He admitted that the psychiatrist continued to issue her prescriptions and a medical certificate: "She is not a classic patient, so I do that. When friends ask me for a favor, I issue prescriptions and certificates."

The alleged victim is to be heard as a witness on the next day of the trial. If convicted, the psychiatrist faces a prison sentence of three months to five years. The trial will resume on November 10th.