Swiss doctor kept license for years after rape conviction

A Swiss family doctor convicted of sexual assault continued practicing for years after his initial conviction, with authorities only revoking his license after the federal court confirmed the verdict in September 2026. The Zurich health office has now filed a criminal complaint against him for continuing to work after the revocation. The victim, Stella S., was 19 when the doctor assaulted her during a massage in his practice. He was convicted of rape in 2022 and received a lifetime practice ban, but he appealed through all legal instances for four years while continuing to see patients. The health office under Natalie Rickli declined to provisionally suspend his license, citing a 2017 court ruling that favored less severe measures. The doctor continued booking patients even after his license was finally revoked. The Zurich health office has revoked licenses in only 36 cases over the past decade, a cautious approach that critics say enabled similar abuse cases, including another doctor who allegedly assaulted sedated patients.