Hospital in Lippstadt Prohibits Abortions - Chief Physician Unsuccessful in Legal Challenge - Abortions prohibited at Lippstadt Clinic - Lawsuit by chief physician unsuccessful
In a ruling on August 8, 2025, the Hamm Labour Court authorised the Catholic operator of Lippstadt Hospital - Christian Hospital to implement a ban on abortions. This decision comes after the hospital merged with a Catholic healthcare provider in February 2025.
The ban, which prohibits abortions even in cases of severe fetal malformations, has specific guidelines. Abortions are only permitted at Lippstadt Hospital when the life or limb of the pregnant woman is in danger. This restriction applies not only to hospital procedures but also extends to the private practice of Dr. Joachim Volz, the hospital's gynecologist and chief physician, in Bielefeld.
Dr. Volz, who is 67 years old, had been performing medically indicated abortions in individual cases before the ban. However, his complaint regarding the ban in his private practice was dismissed.
The Catholic operator's guidelines at Lippstadt Hospital strictly limit medically indicated abortions to cases of immediate danger to the life or physical integrity of the pregnant woman. This narrower scope differs from the standard exceptions in Germany due to the hospital’s Catholic governance and associated religious directives.
The judge, Klaus Griese, emphasised that medically indicated abortions are still permitted in certain circumstances. He will provide a detailed justification for the ruling in writing. The District Court of Hamm had initially banned abortions at Lippstadt Hospital, but the latest ruling upholds the hospital's right to implement the abortion ban in both its institutional and private practice settings.
The new instruction does not categorically ban medically indicated abortions at the hospital. Instead, it applies to all activities of the gynecologist, including those in his private practice. Dr. Volz had been working at Lippstadt Evangelical Hospital before the merger.
[1] Source: Hamm Labour Court ruling, August 8, 2025. [5] Source: German law on abortion, section 218 of the Criminal Code.
Despite the ban on abortions at Lippstadt Hospital, the judge made clear that medically indicated abortions are still permissible in certain circumstances, specifically when the life or physical integrity of the pregnant woman is in danger. This restriction applies not only to hospital procedures but also extends to the private practice of Dr. Joachim Volz, the hospital's gynecologist and chief physician, in Bielefeld. Although the ban also affects his private practice, it does not categorically prohibit medically indicated abortions, as per the guidelines of the Catholic operator. The ruling is in accordance with German law on medical-conditions and health-and-wellness, including women's health issues.
