Doctor sacked after scandalous remark made to obese patient: 'Only Auschwitz would help you'
A doctor at a hospital in Austria has been fired after making an outrageous remark to a clinically obese patient when he was talking about the treatment he needs.
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According to the Daily Mail, the incident sparked outrage among staff and health authorities.
The doctor, employed at the Horn State Hospital in Lower Austria, told the patient that: “Only Auschwitz would help you here.” The incident was initially treated as an internal matter before it turned into a major scandal, according to local media.
Hospital staff reportedly raised the alarm after the comment was made during a meeting, with an anonymous letter subsequently sent to the Austrian publication MeinBezirkwhich detailed the remark and a toxic work environment.
The letter claimed that nursing staff were increasingly refusing to accompany the doctor on medical visits because of his behavior.
The Lower Austrian State Health Agency confirmed the dismissal of the doctor following an internal investigation. The decision was confirmed for Heute after requests for information have been made.
Matthias Hofer, the agency's head of communications, said the response came immediately after the allegation became known.
“After the incident came to light, the person concerned was immediately suspended,” Hofer said. “Following an investigation into the case, his employment contract has now been terminated with immediate effect.”
He added that such statements “they directly contradict our core values, are to be condemned in the strongest terms, and will not be tolerated under any circumstances by us.”
Hofer noted that the doctor had been suspended on Friday, but the formal meeting to finalize the summary dismissal could not take place until Tuesday because of a public holiday.
The letter sent to the publication about the doctor's alleged conduct also said: “This behavior is a disgrace to Horn Hospital and there must be immediate consequences.”
Andreas Riedl, head of the district office of the Austrian Labor Chamber, said no labor law complaint had been filed, but described the allegation as deeply disturbing.
Police said they are not currently involved. A spokesman for the police in Lower Austria, Stefan Loidl, told the Heute: “We have no information in this case so far. We are not aware of any criminal charges being filed.”
So far, the authorities have not confirmed whether the former doctor will face other professional or legal consequences beyond the termination of his employment contract. Austria has strict laws banning Nazi ideology, symbols, its justifications, and the revival of Nazism.
