The mother of the 31-year-old in court. © SIGI JANTZ
A 31-year-old has been infertile since an inguinal hernia operation. His parents are said to have commissioned a doctor to sterilize him – possibly without his consent.
Did they have their son sterilized against his will? This is the subject of a current criminal trial at the district court – the parents of a mentally and physically impaired 31-year-old are accused there. He had been operated on for an inguinal hernia in 2016 – during the operation, a doctor from Grünwald had sterilized him right away. It is questionable whether the patient had consented to this measure.
31-year-old is mentally and physically impaired – "I can't care for children"
The parents are now accused at the district court of incitement to serious bodily injury – the doctor for serious bodily injury. Because for the sterilization of mentally handicapped people in Germany there are high legal hurdles – these are said to have illegally circumvented the parents and the doctor, the public prosecutor's office accuses them.
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"Certainly" her son wanted sterilization, assured the 66-year-old mother of the victim – he is still infertile today. The son told the mother: "I can't take care of children if I father them." Therefore, according to her assumption, expert opinion and court order are not necessary in this matter, according to the mother. But this is exactly what the strict law requires.
Mother maintains innocence – communication with her son is not easy
"I wasn't aware of any guilt," the 66-year-old said several times. Her son needs "permanent care" and works in a workshop for the disabled. Communication with him is not always easy. In his own words, he had always called the possible sterilization "the snip" – and agreed.
Later, however, probably not anymore. In a civil case, the young man was awarded 60,000 euros in a settlement, according to his lawyer Reinhard Köppe. The criminal trial will last until June 29.
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