Polish psychiatrist Prof. Janusz Heitzman was removed from his Ministry of Health and psychiatric institute posts on 7 November 2024 after a viral report detailed his alleged sexual abuse of a 15‑year‑old patient, a claim later investigated but ultimately dropped.
Rapid Ministry Action
The Ministry of Health immediately terminated Heitzman’s membership in the Mental Health Council and his role as the mental health board’s corporate physician on 7 November 2024 following a WP (Wirtualna Polska) article. An accompanying decree also relieved him of his duties as court‑psychiatry liaison officer.
Alleged Abuse Claims
The story first surfaced when WP revealed that in 2022 Heitzman had invited the then‑15‑year‑old patient to his home, “claiming this helped him understand patients better.” The boy allegedly experienced non‑consensual contact and was filmed by the teenager himself, with the video later shown to the patient’s girlfriend who urged him to file a police complaint.
Teenager Records Incident
The teenager recorded a video in which Heitzman masturbated while the boy was present. He later claimed the incident “was an act to relieve stress” and that Heitzman suggested he could do the same. The recording prompted the initiation of a criminal case on 17 December 2024.
Investigation and Dismissal
The police investigated the matter under Articles 58 §2 of the Anti‑Narcotics Act and 208 of the Criminal Code, pertaining to “abuse of a minor.” The case was dismissed on 9 June 2025; no charges were filed against Heitzman. The investigation also touched on another earlier allegation involving a different patient around 20 years ago.
Additional Allegations
Separately, prosecutors examined claims that Heitzman had facilitated sexual activity with a minor, specifically involving the touching of intimate areas. This was part of a broader concern about a “code of silence” among psychiatry peers regarding misconduct.
Heitzman’s Response
Heitzman denied all accusations, stating he never invited patients to his home, slept in a shared bed, or offered alcohol to a minor. He described the allegations as retaliation for reporting the patient’s mother about marijuana use, insisting that no evidence of misconduct was found and the investigation was closed without charges.