Proceeding against doctor for headscarf ban

The Kassenärtzliche union opened a case against a Hessian doctor in his practice a "headscarf ban" on the basis of "rules of the game" set. The State Medical Association also wants to deal with the case.

A doctor from the Hessian Wächtersbach had hung in his doctor's office in early September, a sign on which girls and women of Muslim origin was prohibited to wear a headscarf in practice. In addition, patients should have "basic German language skills". „Child-rich Islamic families with more than 5 biological children“ The doctor also did not want to treat and almost refused them with the attached „game rules“ access to the practice. Now the doctor, who has now hung the sign again, must answer to the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians. In an oral interview, the doctor should explain his actions. Under certain circumstances, the doctor threatens to withdraw his license.

Nationwide, the doctor had caused a stir with his action. After numerous protests and reports in the press, the doctor saw himself misunderstood and hung his own „game rules“ again. But the headscarf ban will now potentially have serious consequences for the doctor. The Kassenärztliche Vereinigung has now decided to initiate a disciplinary procedure against the physician. Now the doctor has to explain himself to a panel at a hearing. This was decided by a responsible committee in Frankfurt, as a KV spokeswoman explained. But that's not enough, even the State Medical Association wants to examine the case as well. The local Turkish association also saw in the trade discrimination of Muslim patients. However, it is more a dialogue.

During the interview, the physician must answer questions from the panel of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians. If the trial is negative for the doctor, he could suffer serious sanctions, including withdrawal of the KV license. If this happens, the doctor may no longer treat patients who are insured by the statutory health insurance. If the panel decides not to terminate the proceedings, a simple warning or a fine could follow. When the trial actually takes place, is not fixed to the present time.

Meanwhile, the doctor has apologized for his actions. "I was wrong in tone," he summed up in September. The physician had shortly after the reports in the press his sign with the rules abandoned again and wanted to work on a new version, which he previously voted with the Turkish-Islamic Cultural Association. According to his own information, the doctor hung the sign because there were difficulties in treating Muslim patients in the past. Whether the doctor has now hung again on a new sign on, is unlikely due to the scheduled procedure.

The poster was with the headline „game rules“ provided, but were on the sign words like „strict ban on headscarves“ or „Child-rich Islamic families with more than 5 biological children“ are not treated in the doctor's office.
Why exactly the disciplinary procedure was initiated, did not justify the Kässsenärtzliche union. However, it had already been announced in September that these suspended „game rules“ probably offended against the medical Hippocratic oath, „which is unacceptable“, as it was called then. Now one speaks of an "internal process". The Investigative Committee consists of two doctors and a chairman with the qualification to become a judge. The physician can bring a lawyer at the trial. (sb, 16.10.2010)