Suspended sentence confirmed for doctor after infecting patients with hepatitis C

Suspended sentence confirmed for doctor after infecting patients with hepatitis C

At the end of June, the court sentenced him to two years' probation for 51 counts of assault and embezzlement. The court considered it proven that the senior physician, who was infected with hepatitis C, had embezzled opiates and administered the painkillers himself, disregarding hygiene rules in the process. As a result, he infected the patients.

The incidents occurred between February 2017 and April 2018. The man was involved in a total of 1714 operations during the period in question. The majority of patients did not become infected. The doctor appealed against the Augsburg ruling to the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe, but his appeal has now been dismissed.

According to Deutsche Leberhilfe, a new infection with hepatitis C rarely leads to symptoms; in 20 to 50 percent of those affected, the infection heals on its own. In many cases, however, the infection becomes chronic and remains in the body permanently. If the infection is not treated, late effects such as cirrhosis and liver cancer can develop after many years. Thanks to new drugs, however, hepatitis C is now almost always curable.

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1. The suspended sentence for the doctor, who infected patients with hepatitis C in Donauwörth, was recently confirmed by the Regional court.
2. Despite appealing to the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe, the doctor's conviction was upheld, maintaining the original suspended sentence.
3. The doctor, who had a conviction for embezzlement and assault, had unfortunately infected several patients with hepatitis C during his tenure in Donauwörth.
4. Between February 2017 and April 2018, the doctor performed over 1700 operations, but unfortunately, 51 patients were infected with hepatitis C.
5. The doctor, who was infected with hepatitis C himself, was found to have disregarded hygiene rules during these operations, leading to the infections.
6. The doctor's case highlights the importance of adhering to strict hygiene protocols in medical settings to prevent the spread of diseases like hepatitis C.
7. Fortunately, for many of the affected patients, new drugs can now effectively treat hepatitis C, curing the infection almost completely.
8. The doctor, whose actions resulted in physical harm to several patients in Donauwörth, was also convicted for causing bodily injury.
9. From this case, we can learn the importance of responsible medical practices and the severe consequences that can arise when these practices are ignored.

Source: www.stern.de