Former gymnast Helene Schäfer-Betz was unable to obtain compensation for pain and suffering from her former doctor at the Chemnitz Olympic Training Center. Her claim for 30,000 euros was dismissed by the Medical Liability Chamber of the Chemnitz Regional Court on Wednesday. He should have informed her more about the side effects of the painkiller Tilidin, explained court spokeswoman Marika Lang. However, there was no causal evidence that taking the tablet had led to the fall during a competition. Furthermore, there was no evidence at the time to recommend that she end her sports career from an orthopaedic point of view.
The legal dispute concerned the fact that Helene Schäfer-Betz, the sister of former world champion Pauline Schäfer-Betz, was given the painkiller tilidine as a 16-year-old before a competition in Japan with the approval of the orthopaedist after months of hip pain. As a result, she was dazed and fell off the beam at the 2017 competition. She ended her gymnastics career in 2021. The defendant doctor denied the allegations and claimed that the treatment had been professional.
The court heard Christoph Lohmann, Director of the Orthopaedic University Clinic Magdeburg, as an expert witness at the trial in early March. He had confirmed that the doctor had provided faultless treatment. The fact that he had approved the administration of the painkiller after a telephone call was not objectionable.
According to him, it had been prescribed at the lowest dose. He based his analysis on the patient file. According to this, there had previously been MRI examinations and diagnostic discussions. In addition, Lohmann said that the athletes at the Olympic training center received intensive care from physiotherapists and sports psychologists.
According to the court, an appeal against the verdict can be lodged with the Higher Regional Court.
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