--- title: "German pediatrician on trial for sexual abuse of over 70 children" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/german-pediatrician-on-trial-for-sexual-abuse-of-over-70-children" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/german-pediatrician-on-trial-for-sexual-abuse-of-over-70-children" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/german-pediatrician-on-trial-for-sexual-abuse-of-over-70-children.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/german-pediatrician-on-trial-for-sexual-abuse-of-over-70-children" category: "Politics" published: "2026-11-02T15:45:45.761Z" source_reported: "2026-11-02T14:13:53.000Z" updated: "2026-11-02T15:45:45.761Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 57 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-11-02T17:30:12.834889+00:00" --- # German pediatrician on trial for sexual abuse of over 70 children *The trial began on Monday in Potsdam, with prosecutors alleging 130 offences against victims aged two to twenty.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Claims are corroborated across 28 outlets, but the central claim rests on anonymous sourcing. - Craft 57 of 100, higher is better. The digests provide basic facts but lack depth, quotes, and context for a full assessment. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headlines use strong language like 'admits' and 'confesses' which is not fully supported by the digests. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The trial of a German paediatrician started on Monday at the Potsdam Regional Court. - Prosecutors allege more than 70 victims, aged two to twenty, and 130 abuse cases. - The doctor is 46 years old and was arrested about a year ago after a mother reported suspicion. - The case concerns alleged abuse spanning more than ten years in eastern German towns. A 46‑year‑old paediatrician from eastern Germany appeared before the Potsdam Regional Court on Monday. The prosecution says the doctor sexually abused patients for more than a decade, with victims ranging from two to twenty years old at the time of the offences. The indictment lists over 70 affected persons and a total of 130 alleged offences. The case came to light after a mother reported her child’s suspected abuse to authorities about a year ago, leading to the doctor’s arrest. The trial is being conducted in the regional court that serves the Brandenburg area, covering the towns of Nauen and Rathenow where the doctor worked. The defendant has admitted to many of the charges, expressing a desire to spare the victims from testifying. The court’s proceedings began at 9.30 a.m. on Monday. ## Number of offences alleged Le Figaro and several right‑rated digests state that the prosecution charges the doctor with a total of 130 offences. Other centre‑rated digests, such as IOL and stern.de, refer only to "more than 70" victims without specifying the total number of offences. ## What the coverage left out None of the left‑rated digests mention the specific clinics in Nauen and Rathenow where the abuse allegedly occurred. No centre‑rated digests refer to the youngest victim being two years old, a detail reported only by right‑rated outlets. **130** — Alleged offences (Number of crimes the prosecution says the doctor committed) > "I want to spare the victims from having to testify," the doctor said in court. > > — Unnamed defendant, court statement ## Who covered it Shares of the 24 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 13% (3) - Centre: 37% (9) - Right: 50% (12) 21 of 45 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-11-02T17:30:12.834889+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 11 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-11-02T18:30:12.579Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left‑rated digest from TVA Nouvelles highlighted that the trial began on Monday in Germany and that the doctor faces accusations of sexual assault on more than 70 children and adolescents over a period exceeding ten years. ### Centre - Centre‑rated digests (IOL, Ekstra Bladet, stern.de, Deutschlandfunk, Channels Television, Cedarnews) reported the start of the trial in Potsdam, the prosecution’s estimate of over 70 victims aged two to twenty, and the total of 130 alleged offences. Channels Television added that the abuse took place at clinics in Nauen and Rathenow between 2013 and 2025. ### Right - Right‑rated digests (Le Figaro, Kurier, Berliner Morgenpost, n‑tv, Die Presse, Welt, Bild, RP Online) focused on the 130 abuse cases, the doctor’s admission of guilt, and details such as the youngest victim being two years old. Several noted the defendant’s statement of “great guilt” and his wish to spare victims from testifying. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - veryLow: 1 - mixed: 2 - high: 13 - unknown: 21 - veryHigh: 8 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Times of Malta](https://timesofmalta.com/article/doctor-germany-trial-sex-abuse-70-children.1136527) — Doctor in Germany on trial over sex abuse of over 70 children - [Spiegel](https://spiegel.de/panorama/justiz/potsdam-staatsanwaltschaft-wirft-kinderarzt-missbrauch-und-vergewaltigung-vor-a-9c3cf9a7-b333-4d1d-a80d-f4730204df01) — (S+) Sexual Violence Trial: »Come on, Play Along!«, Wrote the Pediatrician to an 11-Year-Old - [Tagesschau](https://tagesschau.de/inland/regional/brandenburg/prozess-kinderarzt-100.html) — Potsdam District Court: Pediatrician Admits Acts in Abuse Process - [24 heures](https://24heures.ca/2026/11/02/allemagne-proces-dun-medecin-accuse-dagressions-sexuelles-sur-plus-de-70-enfants) — Germany: Trial of a Doctor Accused of Sexual Assault on More than 70 Children - [mainwelle.de](https://mainwelle.de/kinderarzt-spricht-in-missbrauchsprozess-von-grosser-schuld-2525280) — Pediatrician Speaks of Great Guilt in Abuse Process - [FOCUS online](https://focus.de/panorama/kinderarzt-gesteht-missbrauch-in-130-faellen_e5c7e2dd-7754-4c40-bdf3-ef5120a36105.html) — Pediatrician Admits Abuse in 130 Cases - [NOS](https://nos.nl/artikel/2637764-duitse-arts-bekent-misbruik-van-tientallen-kinderen-tussen-de-2-en-20-jaar) — German Doctor Confesses to Abusing Dozens of Children Between the Ages of 2 and 20 - [SIC Notícias](https://sicnoticias.pt/mundo/europa/2026-11-02-medico-pediatra-acusado-de-130-crimes-de-abuso-sexual-comeca-a-ser-julgado-na-alemanha-3b2aaf7a) — Paediatric Doctor Accused of 130 Crimes of Sexual Abuse Begins to Be Tried in Germany - [onetz.de](https://onetz.de/deutschland-welt/kinderarzt-spricht-missbrauchsprozess-grosser-schuld-id5550608.html) — Pediatrician Speaks of Great Guilt in Abuse Process - [Kronen Zeitung](https://krone.at/4358969) — Over 70 Children Sexually Abused: Doctor Devout - [inFranken.de](https://infranken.de/ueberregional/newsticker-national/panorama/kinderarzt-spricht-in-missbrauchsprozess-von-grosser-schuld-art-6408157) — Pediatrician Speaks of Great Guilt in Abuse Process - [wz.de](https://wz.de/panorama/kinderarzt-spricht-in-missbrauchsprozess-von-grosser-schuld_aid-157685853) — Pediatrician Speaks of Great Guilt in Abuse Process - [op-online.de](https://op-online.de/welt/kinderarzt-spricht-in-missbrauchsprozess-von-grosser-schuld-zr-94570431.html) — Pediatrician Speaks of Great Guilt in Abuse Process - [pmo.ee](https://pmo.ee/8575896) — Doctor Accused of Abusing More than 70 Children Goes on Trial in Germany - [IOL](https://iol.co.za/news/world/2026-11-02-doctor-in-germany-on-trial-over-sex-abuse-of-over-70-children) — Doctor in Germany on trial over sex abuse of over 70 children - [Berliner Morgenpost](https://morgenpost.de/panorama/article413569551/kinderarzt-gesteht-jahrelangen-sexuellen-missbrauch-mehr-als-70-betroffene.html) — Pediatrician Admits Years of Sexual Abuse – More than 70 Sufferers - [Hamburger Abendblatt](https://abendblatt.de/panorama/article413569551/kinderarzt-gesteht-jahrelangen-sexuellen-missbrauch-mehr-als-70-betroffene.html) — Sexual Abuse: Pediatrician Admits Years of Assault on Patients - [Thüringer Allgemeine](https://thueringer-allgemeine.de/panorama/article413569551/kinderarzt-gesteht-jahrelangen-sexuellen-missbrauch-mehr-als-70-betroffene.html) — Sexual Abuse: Pediatrician Admits Years of Assault on Patients - [Ostthüringer Zeitung](https://otz.de/panorama/article413569551/kinderarzt-gesteht-jahrelangen-sexuellen-missbrauch-mehr-als-70-betroffene.html) — Sexual Abuse: Pediatrician Admits Years of Assault on Patients - [braunschweiger-zeitung.de](https://braunschweiger-zeitung.de/panorama/article413569551/kinderarzt-gesteht-jahrelangen-sexuellen-missbrauch-mehr-als-70-betroffene.html) — Sexual Abuse: Pediatrician Admits Years of Assault on Patients - [nordbayern.de](https://nordbayern.de/schlagzeilen/kinderarzt-spricht-in-missbrauchsprozess-von-grosser-schuld-1.15338601) — Pediatrician Speaks of Great Guilt in Abuse Process - [Deutschlandfunk](https://deutschlandfunk.de/kinderarzt-wegen-sexueller-gewalt-in-130-faellen-vor-gericht-100.html) — Potsdam - Pediatrician for Sexual Violence in 130 Cases in Court - [Welt](https://welt.de/vermischtes/article6ae88aa98cf0ad2f474f5ebe/potsdam-arzt-soll-70-kinder-missbraucht-haben-staatsanwalt-braucht-zwei-stunden-nur-fuer-die-anklage.html) — Potsdam: Doctor Is Said to Have Abused 70 Children – Prosecutor Takes Two Hours only to Prosecute - [Reformatorisch Dagblad](https://rd.nl/a/duitse-arts-voor-rechter-op-verdenking-van-misbruik-70-kinderen) — German Doctor Faces Court on Suspicion of Abusing 70 Children - [www.kleinezeitung.at](https://kleinezeitung.at/artikel/41412764/mehr-als-70-betroffene-deutscher-kinderarzt-gesteht-jahrelangen) — More than 70 Affected Persons: German Pediatrician Admits Abuse - [n-tv](https://n-tv.de/panorama/Missbrauchs-Prozess-Kinderarzt-gesteht-Taten-id31485310.html) — "Great Guilt Loaded on Me": Abuse Trial: Pediatrician Admits Actions - [Bild](https://bild.de/regional/potsdam/juengstes-opfer-2-jahre-alt-kinderarzt-gesteht-missbrauch-in-130-faellen-6ae883bbb3f0fa60211d623e) — Latest Victim 2 Years Old: Pediatrician Admits Abuse in 130 Cases - [noz.de](https://noz.de/deutschland-welt/panorama/artikel/kinderarzt-gesteht-sexuellen-missbrauch-juengstes-kind-war-2-51685369) — The Youngest Child Was 2 Years Old: Pediatrician Admits Sexual Abuse of Patients - [Ekstra Bladet](https://ekstrabladet.dk/nyheder/tysk-boernelaege-anklaget-for-seksuelle-overgreb-paa-flere-end-70-boern/11340662) — German Pediatrician Accused of Abusing 70 Children - [jauns.lv](https://jauns.lv/raksts/arzemes/736218-vacija-tiesas-prieksa-stajas-arsts-par-seksualu-vardarbibu-pret-vairak-neka-70-berniem) — Doctor Goes on Trial in Germany for Sexually Abusing More than 70 Children - [newscentraltv.com](https://newscentraltv.com/german-paediatrician-accused-of-abusing-over-70-children) — German Paediatrician Accused of Abusing Over 70 Children - [Nettavisen](https://nettavisen.no/nyheter/lege-tiltalt-for-overgrep-mot-70-barn-i-tyskland/s/80-95-212702) — Doctor Charged with Molesting 70 Children in Germany - [Sydsvenskan](https://sydsvenskan.se/varlden/lakare-misstanks-for-overgrepp-mot-over-70-barn) — Doctor Suspected of Abusing over 70 Children - [Kurier](https://kurier.at/chronik/welt/deutschland-kinderarzt-missbrauchsfaelle-prozess/403202501) — 130 Abuse Cases: German Pediatrician in Trial - [Die Presse](https://diepresse.com/41412422/130-missbrauchsfaelle-deutscher-kinderarzt-gesteht-vor-gericht) — 130 Abuse Cases: German Pediatrician Confesses to Court - [TVA Nouvelles](https://tvanouvelles.ca/2026/11/02/allemagne-proces-dun-medecin-accuse-dagressions-sexuelles-sur-plus-de-70-enfants) — Germany: Trial of a Doctor Accused of Sexual Assault on More than 70 Children - [swedenherald.com](https://swedenherald.com/article/german-pediatrician-goes-on-trial-suspected-of-abusing-more-than-70-children) — German Pediatrician Goes on Trial, Suspected of Abusing More Than 70 Children - [ORF.at News](https://orf.at/stories/3446855) — Dozens of Children Abused: Doctor in Potsdam in Court - [Channels Television](https://channelstv.com/2026/11/02/doctor-on-trial-over-sexual-abuse-of-over-70-children-in-germany) — Doctor On Trial Over Sexual Abuse Of Over 70 Children In Germany - [Le Figaro](https://lefigaro.fr/international/allemagne-un-medecin-juge-pour-des-agressions-sexuelles-sur-plus-de-70-enfants-20261102) — Germany: One Doctor Tried for Sexual Assault on More than 70 Children - [RP Online](https://rp-online.de/panorama/missbrauchsprozess-gegen-kinderarzt-hat-begonnen-potdam_aid-157665191) — More than 70 Victims: Abuse Process Against Pediatricians Has Begun - [rbb24](https://rbb24.de/panorama/beitrag/2026/11/kinderarzt-havelland-sexuell-missbrauch-prozess-potsdam-brandenburg.html) — Trial to Start Abuse Charges Against Pediatrician - [stern.de](https://stern.de/news/sexueller-missbrauch-von-ueber-70-kindern--prozess-gegen-brandenburger-arzt-beginnt-38486892.html) — Sexual Abuse of More than 70 Children: Trial Against Brandenburg Doctor Begins - [cedarnews.net](https://cedarnews.net/berlin-brandenburg-kinderarzt-wegen-missbrauchsvorwurfen-potsdam-gericht) — Berlin & Brandenburg: Pediatrician for Abuse Charges in Potsdam in Court - [Zeit Online](https://zeit.de/news/2026-11/01/kinderarzt-wegen-missbrauchs-von-patienten-vor-gericht) — Trial Begins: Pediatrician for Abuse of Patients in Court ## Questions **When did the trial start?** The trial began on Monday at the Potsdam Regional Court, with proceedings starting at 9.30 a.m., according to multiple outlet digests. **How many victims are alleged?** Prosecutors say more than 70 children and adolescents were abused, with ages ranging from two to twenty at the time of the offences. **What is the total number of offences alleged?** The indictment lists 130 separate offences, a figure mentioned by several right‑rated digests and some centre‑rated reports. **What locations were involved in the abuse?** The alleged abuse took place at clinics in the eastern German towns of Nauen and Rathenow, as reported by Channels Television. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. 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