Dentist in court: deprivation of liberty and dangerous bodily harm!

Dentist in court: deprivation of liberty and dangerous bodily harm!

In the city of Wuppertal the lights are currently red for a dentist who has to answer in court for serious allegations. The process that takes place onJuly 1, 2025begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Wuppertal district court and raises questions about patient rights and medical ethics.

The dentist is accused of treating a patient against his will. When he wanted to stop the treatment, the dentist pressed him with the words: “You’re not going anywhere anymore, I’ll finish it now!” into the treatment chair. Without consent, he used a scalpel to cut open an abscess in the patient's mouth. This is being charged as grievous bodily harm because follow-up treatment revealed that the wound was not properly treated and hematomas formed, which significantly traumatized the patient reports n-tv.

Dental practice under attack

But it's not just these serious allegations. Further allegations weigh on the dentist: He is said to have used contaminated instruments in his practice, which endangered the safety of his patients. During checks it emerged that he did not have the necessary equipment to clean the medical tools and, despite repeated bans, worked with inadequately cleaned instruments. Such negligent behavior could have far-reaching consequences.

Recent case law raises the question of when a tooth extraction is considered dangerous bodily harm. Dental economy reports a similar case in which doctors were blamed for unnecessary tooth extractions to relocate profitable implants. It is discussed here that interventions that are not medically necessary can result in legal action. Differences in the legal classification - from the simple to the dangerous level of injury - play a decisive role.

Ethical issues in focus

The problem surrounding the treatment of patients in dentistry raises not only legal but also ethical questions. At a Event In the Ethics section at the German Dentists' Day in November 2017, it was discussed that communication between dentist and patient is crucial for a trusting relationship. Many patients are laypeople and rely on the expertise of their doctors. Abuse of trust can not only have legal consequences, but can also put a strain on the fundamental relationship between doctor and patient.

Against the background of these current developments, it becomes clear how important it is for dentists to inform their patients comprehensively about upcoming procedures and to always obtain the necessary consent. An experienced dentist not only has the knowledge, but also the responsibility to constantly question his actions and meet ethical standards.

A look at the upcoming hearing in Wuppertal will show to what extent such incidents can affect patients' trust in the healthcare system. Future decisions could have far-reaching consequences for all professionals working in dentistry.