German Doctor Faces Charges in Patient Deaths
A 40-year-old doctor specializing in palliative medicine in Germany has been charged with the murders of 15 patients, with investigations revealing he may be linked to an additional 95 deaths, according to reports from NBC News.
Details of the Allegations
The patients involved in the charges ranged in age from 25 to 94 years old, with all incidents occurring between September 2021 and July 2024. The doctor provided medical services as part of a homecare nursing team.
The Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that the physician was arrested in August of last year. Initially implicated in only four cases, the probe has since expanded, prompting prosecutors to amend the arrest warrant multiple times to include additional murder counts.
Method of Alleged Crimes
Investigators allege that the doctor administered unauthorized doses of anesthetics and muscle relaxants to his victims, causing respiratory failure within minutes of administration. This cocktail of drugs led to rapid paralysis of the respiratory muscles, resulting in death without the patients’ consent or knowledge.
Cover-Up Efforts
Further complicating the case, authorities allege that the doctor attempted to cover his tracks by igniting fires in some victims’ homes. This tactic was reportedly used to obscure the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Recent Developments in the Investigation
Among the most disturbing allegations is the claim that the doctor killed two patients—a 75-year-old man and a 76-year-old woman—within hours of each other in July of the last year, both in their apartments in a suburb southeast of Berlin.
Law enforcement is looking into a total of 395 deaths linked to the doctor, with investigations confirming his involvement in at least 95 suspected cases. Additionally, approximately 75 more deaths are pending investigation.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
As part of the ongoing legal actions, authorities have exhumed at least a dozen bodies, with five cases now included in the formal indictment against the doctor. While he has not publicly commented on the charges, prosecutors are moving forward with plans that include advocating for his preventative detention—an incarceration measure based on perceived danger—and a lifelong ban from practicing medicine.
The accused’s defense attorney has yet to be identified, leaving many questions about the upcoming legal procedures.
