Case #0044
Johann Ferdinando Walker

Johann Ferdinando Walker

General medicine  ·  Herrenberg, Germany
Criminal proceedings discontinued on appeal; convicted in professional-conduct proceedings and fined €5,000 (appeal on points of law lodged).
Case Report — Documentation

Type of persecution

  • State prosecution for “issuing incorrect health certificates” (Section 278 of the German Criminal Code)
  • Professional-conduct prosecution – charges brought by the Nordwürttemberg regional medical association before the professional court for physicians
  • A one-year partial ban from practising imposed at first instance (set aside on appeal)
  • Two temporary account freezes
  • Repeated summonses as a witness in administrative-fine proceedings against parents (Infection Protection Act)
  • Police checks on mask-wearing during ongoing practice hours

Accusation

Issuing incorrect health certificates under Section 278 of the German Criminal Code, and professional misconduct in the issuing of medical reports and certificates.

What actually happened?

I personally examined all the patients concerned and issued the certificates on the basis of medical findings (including COPD, asthma and anxiety disorders). The certificates were in keeping with my medical conviction and the Declaration of Geneva.

In addition, the town of Herrenberg ordered the demolition of my garden house; my stance on the plandemic was well known to the town. (All the other neighbours were allowed to keep their garden houses.) The charge itself predated the plandemic, but the demolition order came only afterwards.

— Johann Ferdinando Walker

Current Status

  • Practice still in operation
  • Criminal proceedings discontinued on appeal (Section 153(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, Stuttgart Regional Court)
  • Professional-conduct proceedings: convicted on 3 June 2026 by the professional court for physicians and fined €5,000; Walker has lodged an appeal on points of law (Revision)
Impact — Documentation

Professional impact

Loss of patients who were in thrall to the plandemic, and a gain of many other patients who were seeking help.

Financial impact

Lawyer’s fees.

Personal impact

Sleep disturbances and depressive episodes. Social withdrawal following negative media coverage. A marital crisis with separation and divorce.

Collegial reactions

A few colleagues showed solidarity; the majority, however, distanced themselves – including long-standing practice partners.

Outlook

In spite of everything, I would act in the same way again and again. My patients had a right to an individual medical assessment, and I had the duty to give it to them. I hope that this documentation helps the public learn what has happened to doctors in this country – and that something like this does not happen again. My faith in God obliges me to help people in need.

Chronological course

Chronology

2020:
Beginning of issuing mask exemptions for patients on medical grounds and vaccination-exemption certificates in indicated cases; exemption certificates especially for children with regard to the required testing
2020:
Four police officers and two representatives of the town monitor mask-wearing in the practice rooms during ongoing practice hours
28 Feb 2022 / 28 Aug 2022 / 14 Oct 2022:
Summonses by the Herrenberg police station in the investigation into the “issuing of incorrect health certificates”
5 Jul 2022:
Criminal proceedings for “issuing incorrect health certificates” at Böblingen Local Court
22 Jul 2022:
Verdict: a one-year partial ban from practising and a fine of €12,000
12 Jan 2023:
Appeal at Stuttgart Regional Court – the proceedings are discontinued under Section 153(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure; the state treasury bears the costs of the proceedings, the defendant his own necessary expenses
8 Jul 2024:
Summoned as a witness at Schwäbisch Hall Local Court in administrative-fine proceedings for a breach of the Infection Protection Act; outcome: the fine did not have to be paid, and the child may attend school with the vaccination-exemption certificate he issued
22 Jul 2025:
Bill of indictment by the Nordwürttemberg regional medical association (already several enquiries from the association in previous years that had to be answered)
25 Mar 2026:
Summoned as a witness in administrative-fine proceedings under the Infection Protection Act; the parents are ordered to pay the fine, while he himself is not questioned
3 Jun 2026:
Hearing before the professional court for physicians in Stuttgart on the charge of having “breached the duty in the issuing of medical reports and certificates”; after around five hours of hearing, verdict: a fine of €5,000
June 2026:
Walker lodges an appeal on points of law (Revision) against the verdict
Note on responsibility

The information in this case report comes from the affected person themselves. The editorial team verifies whether a criminal or professional prosecution has taken place; it cannot verify the factual accuracy of every single statement. Responsibility for the correctness of the account lies with the respective author.

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Name
Johann Ferdinando Walker
Specialty
General medicine
Additional qualifications
Naturopathy, acupuncture, manual medicine, homoeopathy, environmental medicine
Special Functions
Facilitator of quality circles in general medicine, homoeopathy and acupuncture; authorised to provide specialty training: general medicine (2 years), naturopathy (3 months), homoeopathy.
Position
Owner of a general practice with two employed physicians and around 1,800 regular patients in Herrenberg. Practising as a physician since 1987.
Location
Herrenberg, Germany
Age
75 years
Practicing since
1991
Persecuted since
2021
Documented since
Aug 31, 2026
Status
Criminal proceedings discontinued on appeal; convicted in professional-conduct proceedings and fined €5,000 (appeal on points of law lodged).
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