Germany Rejects US Claims of Prosecution Against Doctors Over COVID Exemptions

US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has sharply criticized Germany’s handling of COVID-19 policies, alleging that over 1000 doctors and thousands of patients face legal prosecutions for granting exemptions from mask and vaccination mandates. Kennedy argued that such criminal proceedings undermine patient rights and the doctor-patient relationship, warning that doctors risk becoming mere enforcers of state policy rather than advocates for patient autonomy.

In firm rebuttal, German Health Minister Nina Warken dismissed Kennedy’s accusations as factually incorrect and baseless. She clarified that in Germany, no legal obligation existed for doctors to administer COVID-19 vaccinations, and those refusing vaccinations for medical, ethical, or personal reasons did not face prosecution. Warken stated that criminal actions were limited to cases of fraud, such as issuing false vaccination certificates. She emphasized the constitutional protection of medical freedom, ensuring doctors' independence in treatment decisions and patients’ rights to scientifically based therapies.

Former German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach also criticized Kennedy’s focus, urging him to address shortcomings within the US healthcare system instead. Lauterbach highlighted that Germany’s judiciary operates independently and does not punish doctors merely for issuing falsified certificates.

This dispute underlines ongoing tensions between US and German officials over pandemic policy interpretations, with Germany reaffirming its commitment to medical freedom and legal due process while rejecting claims of politically motivated prosecutions.