'Teddy Clinic' Treats Stuffed Animals to Ease Kids' Fear of Hospitals

Plush patients got real-world tests and treatments.

ByABC News
June 6, 2014, 1:54 PM
Cara, age 5, "operates" on a stuffed guenon at the "Teddy Clinic'' on June 4, 2014 in Giessen, Germany.
Cara, age 5, "operates" on a stuffed guenon at the "Teddy Clinic'' on June 4, 2014 in Giessen, Germany.
Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images

June 6, 2014— -- Some German medical students have gone soft to help kids conquer their fear of doctors.

The students in Giessen, Germany, hosted a “Teddy Clinic” this week, dolling out free care to stuffed animals suffering from a range of imaginary illnesses.

PHOTO: Medical students prepare the "operation" for Ben's, age 3, teddy bear Felix in the operating room of the "Teddy Clinic'' on June 4, 2014 in Giessen, Germany.
Medical students prepare the "operation" for Ben's, age 3, teddy bear Felix in the operating room of the "Teddy Clinic'' on June 4, 2014 in Giessen, Germany.

The clinic aimed to ease anxiety among children, an estimated 90 percent of whom have fears about hospitals and doctors, according to a 2009 study. It also gave med students the chance to work with kids and save the day by bringing their plush pals back from the brink.

PHOTO: Paula, age 5, attends the computed tomography of her stuffed cat Trudi at the "Teddy Clinic'' on June 4, 2014 in Giessen, Germany.
Paula, age 5, attends the computed tomography of her stuffed cat Trudi at the "Teddy Clinic'' on June 4, 2014 in Giessen, Germany.

The doctors-in-training used a mix of real and fake medical instruments to diagnose and treat teddy bears, stuffed cats and other cuddly critters.

Some of the stuffed toys needed X-rays and CT scans.

PHOTO: Paula, age 5, and her stuffed cat Trudi, attend a "consultation" with doctors in the X-ray tent of the "Teddy Clinic'' on June 4, 2014 in Giessen, Germany.
Paula, age 5, and her stuffed cat Trudi, attend a "consultation" with doctors in the X-ray tent of the "Teddy Clinic'' on June 4, 2014 in Giessen, Germany.

Others needed make-believe medical consultations and pretend prescriptions.

PHOTO: A child gets "medicine" for his teddy bear at the "Teddy Clinic'' on June 4, 2014 in Giessen, Germany.
A child gets "medicine" for his teddy bear at the "Teddy Clinic'' on June 4, 2014 in Giessen, Germany.

One stuffed dragon needed an operation, giving his owner a chance to learn about sterility.

PHOTO: Tristan, age 3, attends the "operation" of his stuffed dragon in the operating room of the "Teddy Clinic'' on June 4, 2014 in Giessen, Germany.
Tristan, age 3, attends the "operation" of his stuffed dragon in the operating room of the "Teddy Clinic'' on June 4, 2014 in Giessen, Germany.

But once in a while, a simple bandage did the trick.

PHOTO: A teddy bear that belongs to a young boy gets a bandage at the "Teddy Clinic'' on June 4, 2014 in Giessen, Germany.
A teddy bear that belongs to a young boy gets a bandage at the "Teddy Clinic'' on June 4, 2014 in Giessen, Germany.

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