To cope with financial issues, Dorothea Erxleben began practising medicine in Quedlinburg in Kaplanei 3 even though she did not yet have an academic degree, quickly gaining the respect and trust of the local population.In 1753, one of her patients died. Three local doctors accused her of practising medicine illegally and brought legal proceedings against her. Although there was no concrete evidence against her, she was banned from continuing to practise.
In response to the accusations, Dorothea Erxleben formally requested to be admitted to university exams and to be allowed to present her thesis, so that she could obtain a recognised qualification. After about a year of discussions, she was granted the opportunity to take the exam. In 1754, she obtained her doctorate in medicine from the University of Halle, becoming the first woman in Germany to achieve this milestone.Thanks to this official qualification, she was able to practise medicine legally in Quedlinburg for the rest of her life.
- Photos by Luca Borghi @ (July 2025) and page layout by Maria Chiara Marseglia (November 2025)
- Locate the item on this Google Map