Six doctors from the orthopaedic surgery and sports medicine departments at the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL) have made serious allegations against a surgeon working at the Robert Schuman Hospitals (HRS).
In a letter addressed to CHL chief executive Martine Goergen, the doctors allege that the surgeon carried out unnecessary knee operations. The affected patients were subsequently treated at CHL.
On Tuesday afternoon, HRS confirmed that the surgeon had been temporarily suspended internally.
The letter, dated 6 January, states that since 2023, CHL departments have encountered several patients who had undergone anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, only for later examinations to show that their ligaments were intact and that the surgery had therefore not been medically justified.
In total, 15 patients were identified where significant discrepancies were found between the medical history, clinical examinations, pre-operative imaging and the surgical procedures performed. Of these, 10 patients are believed to have undergone surgery unnecessarily.
HRS confirmed that the matter was dealt with immediately once the allegations came to light. “The case was handled internally without delay and proceedings were initiated”, the hospital said. “This is an adversarial procedure in which the doctor concerned must be heard. Medical management and independent medical advice are also involved. This is about patient safety, the right of all parties to be heard, and the seriousness with which we treat this matter”.
According to the letter, some of the 10 patients later required additional surgery because the outcome of the initial operation was unsatisfactory. HRS communications manager Marc Glesener confirmed that the letter was received by HRS chief executive Marc Berna on 9 January. He added that the hospital must comply with legal requirements and labour law provisions as the internal procedure continues.
The six orthopaedic surgeons who authored the letter said they felt compelled to report their colleague in order to protect future patients.
According to the document, the surgeon in question carried out his last operation shortly before the Christmas holidays in 2025. When asked whether the doctor continued to operate after the management of HRS was informed, Glesener said that, to his knowledge, the surgeon performed two further operations during that period.
“This phase corresponded to a time when the case was under review”, he explained. “For Robert Schuman Hospitals, one thing is essential: a hospital must be a place of safety and trust. This applies first and foremost to patients, but also to doctors. That is why we insist on a transparent examination of what happened and of the outcomes of these cases. This is important both for the patients and for the doctor concerned.”
The surgeon has since been suspended internally from HRS, though Glesener clarified that this is a temporary and precautionary measure.
The case is also now in the hands of Health Minister Martine Deprez, as confirmed to RTL by email on Tuesday morning. Several elements have been reported to the minister and will be analysed in line with the legal provisions governing the medical profession. This review could lead to a temporary suspension of the doctor’s licence, which would prevent them from practising outside the hospital as well.
According to RTL sources, the minister is expected to reach a decision by the end of the week. The surgeon’s case has also reportedly been referred to the Medical Council, which has not yet responded to a request for comment.
Any such decision would be based on the law of 29 April 1983, amended in August 2023. Under Chapter 3, Article 16, paragraph 2, a suspension of up to three months may be imposed if it is established that a doctor, through the exercise of their profession, could pose a risk to future patients. The law refers to the existence of an “imminent danger”.
