In brief
In a shocking case from Germany, a palliative care physician has been charged with the murder of 15 patients, leveraging lethal substances and allegedly setting fires to conceal his actions. While the investigation continues, authorities are expanding the scope of their inquiry amid fears that more deaths might be linked to the suspect.
A German doctor faces severe allegations after being charged with the murders of 15 patients, ranging from 25 to 94 years old, using a combination of lethal drugs while purportedly providing palliative care. Prosecutors in Berlin accuse the 40-year-old physician of killing 12 women and three men between September 2021 and July 2024, suggesting that the number of victims could increase as investigations proceed. The unidentified doctor has not accepted responsibility for these accusations, which include administering an anaesthetic and a muscle relaxant to his patients without their consent, leading to rapid respiratory failure and death. The prosecutor's office described how the muscle relaxant paralyzed vital respiratory functions, resulting in death within minutes. Authorities allege that, to obscure his crimes, the suspect set five of his former patients’ homes ablaze following their deaths. One notable incident occurred in July 2024, when he allegedly murdered both a 75-year-old man and a 76-year-old woman within hours of one another. In a bizarre twist, when his attempt to burn down the woman's residence failed, he reportedly notified a relative, claiming he had been unable to reach her.Initially detained in August 2024 for the suspected murder of four patients under his care, further investigations have led to the discovery of additional suspicious deaths. More exhumations of potential victims are currently planned as the case unfolds. Authorities are seeking a lifelong ban on the doctor’s medical practice and preventative detention while he remains in custody.
