The German Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof) has largely rejected an appeal by a physician against a ruling from the Dresden Regional Court concerning the issuance of fraudulent health certificates. The BGH announced its decision on Tuesday.
The physician had been convicted by the Regional Court for issuing 1,003 inaccurate health certificates during the COVID-19 pandemic, including 26 instances in conjunction with false documentation. She was also found guilty of fraud and the unlawful possession of a prohibited weapon, receiving a total sentence of two years and eight months imprisonment. The Regional Court further imposed a three-year ban on the physician’s right to practice medicine.
According to court findings, the physician began selling “convenience certificates” in late 2020, offering exemptions from mask mandates or permanent vaccination prohibitions during the pandemic as a means to generate income. These certificates were issued without prior medical examination and she distributed them at group appointments across various federal states.
Furthermore, the physician ordered numerous COVID-19 rapid tests in the summer of 2021 with no intention of paying for them. She was also found to be in possession of an electrical shock device lacking required safety certifications at the beginning of 2023. The Federal Court of Justice determined that no legal errors existed that would have disadvantaged the appellant, rendering the Regional Court’s judgment legally binding (Decision of August 27, 2025 – 5 StR 130/25).