The decision was taken by the disciplinary chamber of the Order of Physicians of the Grand Est, following a procedure which brought together seven complaints against this 76-year-old psychiatrist, accused of carrying out “expeditious” examinations. , to make “humiliating” remarks to patients, to lack impartiality in his expertise and to betray professional secrecy.
“It is a decision which is fair and which does justice to all the victims,” reacted Caroline Roeser, co-author of a collective complaint with four other psychiatrists. “It’s been a long fight, and it’s important that there are no more victims. This is what we fought for. »
“His practice goes against many patients”
Rarely, the Order of Physicians of Bas-Rhin joined the procedure to request its removal, during the hearing held in Nancy on December 13, as revealed Rue89 Strasbourg.
Henri Brunner could not be reached this Friday. He contested the accusations made against him. “I am independent,” he replied to those who criticized him for systematically rendering conclusions in line with his representatives. “What gets me into trouble is that I’m not complacent. I am uncompromising,” he assured Wednesday.
Mandated for assessments by insurance companies, Henri Brunner “was, over the years, more and more violent. It calls into question diagnoses and treatment protocols. His practice goes against many patients, whom he puts in danger,” said psychiatrist Georges Federmann, who initiated one of the complaints. “My client left the examination in tears, Doctor Brunner had been haughty, unpleasant and insulting,” explains Thomas Hellenbrand, lawyer for another plaintiff, a teacher assessed at the request of her insurance company in the context of ‘a depression.
“He lost his footing”
“He lost touch with reality,” he continues. “He had judged that she was not depressed because she remembered the date of her parents’ deaths, that she had tattoos and had a ‘heady’ perfume. What he writes is incredible. »
In 2018 and 2019, the Disciplinary Chamber of the Order of Physicians had already sanctioned Henri Brunner, with a reprimand then a warning.
In its decision of March 16, 2018, relating to the complaint of a patient who denounced the “aggressive and humiliating” attitude of the doctor, the Chamber concluded that there was a “violation” of professional obligations, and mentioned the “numerous reports” making state of “an aggressive and contemptuous attitude towards patients”.
“The reports number in the dozens, even hundreds,” said a medical source. Asked on this point, the president of the Departmental Order of Physicians, Guy Birry, did not wish to respond.
“Serious shortage of experts”
These sanctions did not prevent Henri Brunner from continuing to appear on the list of doctors approved by the Bas-Rhin prefecture, and on the list of legal experts in Alsace, contrary to what the regulations provide.
“I have never been informed of any ordinal sanctions taken against Doctor Brunner,” explained Jean-Luc Jaeg, attorney general at the Colmar Court of Appeal, responsible for establishing the lists of judicial experts. The prefecture did not respond to requests.
Although sanctioned and having exceeded the age limit, Doctor Brunner continued to carry out examinations, under the status of “honorary” expert.
In 2024, “I have carried out 399 assessments”
“It hasn’t changed my activity,” he admitted on Wednesday. In 2024, “I have carried out 399 expert opinions” in criminal matters alone, “and submitted 40 times to the assizes”, in addition to his liberal activity.
This over-solicitation was linked to the “serious shortage of experts”, explains a magistrate on condition of anonymity. “If you are an investigating judge, you are bound by deadlines and you have to have a mandatory expert report carried out, you go to the person who will write it the fastest, regardless of the content… and sometimes that is scary.”
In ten years in France, their number has increased from around 1,000 to 350, indicates the National Company of psychiatrist experts at the courts of appeal.
“And yet the procedures provide for expertise in more and more cases,” underlines Doctor Laurent Layet, president of the Company, who deplores that the proposals to reform the activity have never been heard.
