The German government has issued a firm and public rebuttal to claims made by the US Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F Kennedy Jr, regarding the prosecution of doctors during the Covid-19 pandemic. Kennedy alleged that German physicians faced legal action for issuing exemptions from mask mandates and Covid-19 vaccinations, assertions Berlin has labelled as baseless.
A Strong Denial from Berlin
In a strongly worded statement released late on Saturday, Germany's Health Minister, Nina Warken, categorically rejected Kennedy's comments. "The statements made by the US secretary of health are completely unfounded, factually incorrect, and must be rejected," Warken declared. The minister clarified the legal landscape during the pandemic, stating there was "never any obligation on the medical profession to administer Covid-19 vaccinations."
Warken explained that criminal prosecution was only ever pursued in clear cases of fraud and document forgery. "Anyone who did not want to offer vaccinations for medical, ethical, or personal reasons was not liable to prosecution [or] sanctions," she affirmed, adding that German patients retain the freedom to choose their own therapies.
Kennedy's Allegations and the Response
The controversy began when Kennedy, a longtime vaccine sceptic, posted a video on the social media platform X. In it, he claimed to have written to Minister Warken—misspelling her name as 'Workin'—to call for an end to what he termed "politically motivated prosecutions." Kennedy asserted, without providing specific sources or examples, that "more than a thousand German physicians and thousands of their patients now face prosecution and punishment for issuing exemptions."
He accused the German government of violating the doctor-patient relationship and turning medical professionals into "enforcers of state policies." Kennedy concluded by urging Germany to "restore medical autonomy."
His claims were swiftly countered not only by the current health minister but also by her predecessor. Karl Lauterbach, who served as health minister during the pandemic, responded pointedly, suggesting Kennedy should focus on domestic American health issues like life expectancy and healthcare costs. "In Germany, doctors are not punished by the government for issuing false medical certificates. In our country, the courts are independent," Lauterbach wrote.
Broader Context of the Dispute
This diplomatic spat highlights ongoing global tensions surrounding pandemic-era policies. Robert F Kennedy Jr, a controversial figure who has promoted numerous conspiracy theories and been accused of spreading vaccine misinformation, has positioned himself as a critic of public health mandates. His comments are part of a wider, often politically charged debate about personal freedom versus public health authority.
The German government's unequivocal response underscores its commitment to the legal principles it says were upheld during the crisis. Berlin maintains that while it implemented robust public health measures, it did not criminalise medical discretion or personal choice in the manner alleged. This incident serves as a reminder of the deeply polarised narratives that continue to surround the legacy of the Covid-19 pandemic and the public health response.
