A 40-year-old palliative care doctor in Berlin has been charged with the murder of 15 patients over the past three years, with investigations also targeting 75 additional suspicious deaths. Prosecutors allege the physician administered lethal doses of narcotics and further obstructed evidence through arson.
German Palliative Care Physician Accused of Murdering 15 Patients
German Palliative Care Physician Accused of Murdering 15 Patients
A Berlin-based doctor faces serious charges, including suspected serial killings, following an investigation into numerous patient deaths.
Authorities in Germany have charged a palliative care doctor from Berlin with the murder of 15 patients, marking one of the most troubling healthcare-related deaths in recent history. The unidentified doctor, 40 years old, has been implicated in a string of suspicious patient deaths dating from 2021 to 2024, attracting significant media and public attention.
According to the public prosecutor's office, the allegations extend beyond the initial 15 patients, with an additional 75 deaths currently under investigation for potential foul play. If convicted of the murders, he could be recognized as Europe's most notorious serial killer since a German nurse was convicted for murdering at least 85 of his patients roughly two decades ago.
The doctor is believed to have caused the deaths by administering a potent narcotic in combination with a muscle relaxant, effectively sedating the patients before halting their breathing. The charges also allege that he resorted to setting some patients' residences on fire in an attempt to obliterate evidence and even reportedly misled authorities by summoning ambulances to disguise his actions.
Under German law, murder can lead to a sentence of life imprisonment with eligibility for parole after 15 years. However, given the grave nature of these heinous acts, prosecutors are pursuing a request for special security custody, which would allow for the doctor to remain behind bars even after serving any potential sentence, in order to protect society.
Currently, the accused is being held in the Moabit Prison in Berlin, where he has remained since August 2024, following his arrest amid suspicions of having killed four of his patients. Since then, a dedicated investigation team has unearthed evidence leading to the identification of additional victims, further deepening the complexities of this alarming case and igniting public outrage and concerns across Germany.
