Federal Court: Fixed Maximum Age for Doctors Not Allowed

An 85-year-old physician is also allowed to treat patients – if she is mentally and physically fit enough.

More and more doctors are practicing to an old age. This involves risks, but often it is no different because of the lack of skilled workers.

This is not just a feature of the organism, but a consequence of complex physiological changes that occur with age.

A canton cannot set a maximum age for granting permission to practise medicine. The Neuchâtel law, which sets a limit at 80 years of age, is not in conformity with federal law, the Federal Court considers.