Germany Rejects 'Unfounded' US Claims on Doctor Prosecutions for Covid Exemptions

Germany's Health Minister Nina Warken has vehemently rejected recent claims made by US health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regarding the prosecution of German doctors for issuing exemptions related to Covid-19 vaccines and masks. Warken described Kennedy's assertions as 'completely unfounded' and 'factually incorrect'. The dispute arose after Kennedy posted a video and sent a letter alleging widespread legal action against medical professionals in Germany.

Allegations from the US Counterpart

On Saturday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., identified as the US health secretary, released a video and sent a letter to Minister Warken, claiming that 'more than a thousand German physicians and thousands of their patients now face prosecution and punishment for issuing exemptions from wearing masks or getting Covid-19 vaccines'. Kennedy further alleged that the German government was 'limiting people's abilities to act on their own convictions when they face medical decisions' and 'violating the sacred patient-physician relationship'. He called for an 'end to politically motivated prosecutions'. Notably, Kennedy provided no specific sources or examples for his figures and misspelled Minister Warken's name as 'Workin'' in his communication.

Germany's Official Rejection

In a strongly worded statement released late Saturday, Minister Nina Warken unequivocally dismissed Kennedy's claims. She asserted that 'the statements made by the US secretary of health are completely unfounded, factually incorrect, and must be rejected'. Warken clarified that during the pandemic, there was 'never any obligation on the medical profession to administer Covid-19 vaccinations'. She emphasized that criminal prosecution was exclusively pursued in instances of 'fraud and document forgery, such as the issuance of false vaccination certificates or fake mask certificates'. Furthermore, Warken highlighted that in Germany, 'patients are also free to decide which therapy they wish to undergo'.

Former Health Minister Weighs In

Karl Lauterbach, who served as Germany's health minister during the Covid-19 pandemic, also responded to Kennedy's accusations. Lauterbach advised Kennedy to 'take care of health problems in his own country,' pointing to issues such as short life expectancy and high healthcare costs in the United States. He reiterated that 'In Germany, doctors are not punished by the government for issuing false medical certificates. In our country, the courts are independent'.

Conclusion

The German government's swift and firm rejection underscores a significant diplomatic disagreement over the handling of Covid-19 measures and medical autonomy. The statements from both current and former German health ministers aim to correct what they describe as baseless allegations, reaffirming Germany's stance on medical freedom and the independence of its judiciary.