The German government’s Patient Advocate is pushing for the creation of a centralized national register to track disciplinary actions against physicians, highlighting systemic failures in the current oversight process. Stefan Schwartze, in an interview with “Der Spiegel”, criticized the current fragmented system, stating that cooperation between medical chambers (Ärztekammern) and licensing authorities (Approbationsbehörden) is demonstrably inadequate. A central register, he argued, is crucial for identifying instances of professional misconduct and ensuring patient safety.
The call for reform follows investigative reports by “Der Spiegel” and ZDF, which revealed a pattern of delayed or absent responses from both medical chambers and licensing bodies to reports of physician misconduct. These reports detailed instances where alarming signs regarding doctors’ professional conduct were seemingly ignored, leaving patients vulnerable.
One particularly egregious case from Baden-Württemberg, brought to light by the joint investigation, serves as a stark example. A physician with a history of severe professional shortcomings, including revocation of his license in Norway due to significant technical deficiencies since 2021, retained his German license. Despite Stuttgart’s licensing authority being aware of the Norwegian revocation and receiving warnings from Norwegian officials, the physician’s license remained valid after a balancing act between patient safety and the right to professional freedom. The Stuttgart regional authority’s justification underscores a significant tension within the system – prioritizing individual professional rights over potential patient risk.
Critics, including Green Party parliamentarian Janosch Dahmen, are vehement in their condemnation of the current state of affairs. Dahmen emphasized the critical responsibility of medical chambers to uphold transparency, facilitate dispute resolution and proactively address concerns. While recognizing their inability to formally revoke licenses, he stressed that medical chambers are obligated to treat warnings seriously, given the bedrock of trust upon which medical practice is built. The integrity of that trust, he argues, demands decisive action to prevent further harm.
Support for Schwartze’s proposal, a centralized reporting system, is emerging from licensing authorities across multiple German federal states. The suggestion is slated for discussion at a meeting of health ministers planned for late January, signaling a potentially significant shift in how physician oversight is handled. Questions remain regarding the logistical and legal complexities of establishing such a register and ensuring its effective operation, but the escalating pressure to improve patient protection suggests that a substantial reform of Germany’s medical accountability system is likely to occur.