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Bonn Court Convicts Child Psychiatrist Michael Winterhoff, Hands Down Suspended Nine-Month Term

The judges said he prescribed Pipamperon to minors as a long-term therapy from a sincere medical belief.

Overview

  • Michael Winterhoff, 71, was found guilty of intentional bodily harm in seven cases and negligent bodily harm in others.
  • Prosecutors had sought three years and nine months in prison for dangerous bodily harm linked to long-term Pipamperon prescriptions.
  • The court concluded he aimed to avoid side effects and believed he had guardian consent, though the information provided was judged insufficient.
  • The judgment is not yet final, and procedural criticisms raised during the trial could form the basis for an appeal.
  • Twenty-six of the original 36 cases were separated for further investigation, and the probe followed a 2021 ARD documentary that prompted more than 900 complaints.