Seven police officers searched his home in the retirement home last year and seized various chemicals, says Hans Gilgen. At the age of 93 he had to answer to the judiciary for the first time in his life. Visibly nervous, he entered the regional court in Bern-Mittelland on Thursday, dressed smartly in a suit and tie – but without a lawyer, the retired gardener represented himself.
The public prosecutor’s office accuses him of administering medication to a flatmate in the home without specialist knowledge, which led to symptoms of poisoning and could even have brought her to the grave. However, the pensioner objected to the penalty order.
Prohibited chlorine dioxide solution organized from France
The incident occurred on January 14, 2020. “The woman sat next to me while eating and had such a strong cough that she almost coughed out her lungs,” recalls the accused. The doctors didn’t know what to do next, so he offered the lady his help.
“She’s already taken magnesium, which I gave her, but it didn’t improve the cough either. So I suspected she had a virus, ”he explains. “I suggested that she fight it with a chlorine dioxide solution.” He then received the drug from friends in France, because it was no longer permitted in Switzerland.
Bouquet of roses as an excuse
“Finally I mixed eight drops of chlorine dioxide with eight drops of hydrochloric acid and administered the liquid to her. Then something went wrong, ”Gilgen admits in an interview with Blick. Violent vomiting and severe abdominal pain were the consequences of the unsuccessful experiment, according to the prosecutor.
After the patient had recovered from the exertion, he gave her a large bouquet of roses – she hadn’t filed a complaint. “And the cough was gone after that, by the way.” To this day he cannot explain what he did wrong during treatment. He has already administered this remedy many times or taken it himself – without any side effects.
According to his own statements, the pensioner has been interested in natural remedies for many years. He also attended various courses and congresses. Many people would ask him for advice on health issues, he says.
Guilty verdict for the hobby naturopath
He therefore suspects that the incident in January must have been due to the drugs. “The hydrochloric acid was probably more concentrated than stated on the label.” But the president of the court waves it away. It was examined in the laboratory, everything was correct.
Therefore, the amateur naturopath flashed his objection: the court only reduced his fine from 500 to 300 francs because he had no bad intentions and only has a low income. But he has to shell out the procedural costs of over 3100 francs himself. After the opening of the judgment, Hans Gilgen says, disappointed: “I imagined it to be a little different.” But he will now accept the judgment.