After the surgeon was provisionally suspended from performing operations for three months on 20 January, RTL now understands that he has been let go by the Robert Schuman hospital group. The temporary suspension was taken due to a precautionary principle in relation to patients. The Kirchberg hospital management has, according to RTL sources, made this decision based on medical cases which prove that selected patients did not need knee surgery but were ultimately operated on by Dr Wilmes.
For HRS management, this represents a serious professional error and a breach of trust, which has now led to the termination of Dr Wilmes’ contract, which dated back to March 2013. The surgeon will be allowed to appeal this decision at a labour tribunal.
At the same time, there is an ongoing disciplinary investigation led by the Medical College. By the end of April, three experts will have analysed the alleged medical errors performed by Dr Wilmes and submitted a report to the health minister Martine Deprez.
Both procedures are independent and separate from one another.
