Overview

• The trial of the parents of a 16-year-old girl who died in 2022 from suspected undernourishment has begun at the Schweinfurt District Court in Germany.
• Prosecutors accuse the parents of neglect, claiming they did not seek medical assistance despite recognizing the life-threatening condition of their daughter, Pauline, who also had COVID-19 and a gastrointestinal infection at the time of her death.
• The parents, charged with attempted manslaughter, neglect, and bodily harm, have expressed remorse, with both stating they underestimated the severity of her condition and believed she would recover.
• Pauline, who struggled with an eating disorder and anxiety, reportedly resisted hospitalization, and her family had become increasingly isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Experts highlight a significant rise in eating disorders among adolescent girls in Germany during the pandemic, exacerbated by social media pressures and unrealistic beauty standards.