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Dortmund's chief autopsy dismissed: focus on infidelity and irregularities!
City of Dortmund dismisses chief obducer Dr. Katharina J. because of allegations of infidelity and irregularities at the institute.
Dortmund's chief autopsy dismissed: focus on infidelity and irregularities!
The city of Dortmund has its chief autopsy Dr. Katharina J. was dismissed without notice and a criminal complaint was filed against her. This emerges from a statement from public prosecutor Henner Kruse, who confirms that property crimes, particularly infidelity, were named as possible criminal offenses in two reports. An audit by the Institute of Forensic Medicine revealed irregularities, particularly in relation to the billing of post-mortem examinations.
Dr. J. is suspected of not having reported income from secondary activities, such as the preparation of forensic medical reports. The city of Dortmund is of the opinion that it is not entitled to any money for this work because it has already been covered by its salary. These allegations are rejected by Dr. J. vehemently responded and explained that she had adopted her predecessor's billing practices. Her lawyer, Malte Englert, does not see the allegations as criminal offenses and instead suspects that the dismissal of Dr. J. is related to internal personnel changes.
Investigations and Impact
The situation raises numerous questions regarding the working conditions and billing practices at the Dortmund Institute, which is one of the last municipally run forensic medicine facilities in Germany. The institute carries out around 900 autopsies and post-mortem examinations every year, mostly in collaboration with freelancers. In comparison, Münster's forensic medicine department is responsible for 13 permanently employed doctors who carry out almost 600 autopsies per year.
There are currently four positions for permanent doctors in Dortmund, three of which are vacant. The pool of freelancers includes nine specialists, which raises questions about the long-term stability and quality of forensic medical work. Observers fear that the cases against Dr. J. investigations could result in far-reaching changes in the structure and work processes of the institute.
Forensic medicine under pressure
The Institute of Forensic Medicine is responsible not only for Dortmund, but also for the judicial districts of Hagen and Arnsberg. The upcoming investigations could not only affect the quality of forensic medical work, but also question the care of the affected regions. The case could also trigger a broader discussion about the general conditions and challenges of forensic medicine in Germany. In the current situation, it remains to be seen how the allegations and the subsequent legal dispute will develop.