The affair first came to light at the beginning of the year, when Dr Wilmes was suspended following an investigation launched by the Medical Council after receiving several alerts.
According to the Council, the initial alerts were submitted through the whistleblower procedure, a mechanism designed to protect individuals who report potentially problematic practices when they have reasonable grounds to believe the information is accurate. The reports concerned anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) operations that were allegedly carried out without clear medical justification.
After hearing the whistleblowers, the Medical Council concluded that they met the criteria for protection against any form of retaliation. Their identities must therefore remain confidential. Preliminary checks also suggested that the reported cases were not isolated incidents. In the interest of patient safety, the Council informed the Health Minister in December 2025 and invited her to consider appropriate action.
In early January 2026, the Council received a second report, this time from the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL). Six orthopaedic specialists referred to unusual surgical practices involving 10 patients operated on by the same doctor, as well as six procedures that were recommended but ultimately not carried out following a second opinion. This report was signed and not anonymous.
In light of this information, the president of the Medical Council opened a formal investigation. The medical records of the patients concerned, identified only by registration numbers, were requested from CHL and forwarded at the end of January. The doctor concerned was informed of the proceedings and invited to consult the files in order to prepare his defence. He is expected to be heard shortly.
Following the hearing and an analysis of the documents, a report will be drawn up to determine whether the case should be referred to the Disciplinary Board. Should disciplinary proceedings be initiated, the doctor will be entitled to all procedural rights, including legal representation and a hearing.
As stated above, this decision is yet to be taken.
