BERLIN, GERMANY – A 40-year-old doctor in Berlin has been officially charged with the murders of 15 patients under his care between September 2021 and July 2024, in what is now considered one of the most disturbing criminal cases in Germany’s recent medical history. The allegations involve the administration of lethal drug cocktails that led to respiratory failure and death—without the patients’ consent.
According to reports from AFP and Reuters, the physician, whose identity has not been disclosed in accordance with German privacy laws, was a member of a palliative care team at a Berlin nursing center. Initially charged with four murders, the ongoing investigation revealed an increasing number of victims—first rising to eight, then ten, and now fifteen. The victims reportedly include 12 women and 3 men.
The Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office stated that the doctor injected a combination of anesthetics and muscle relaxants, which paralyzed the respiratory muscles, leading to death within minutes. Importantly, these patients were not in active stages of dying, and the medications were administered without their knowledge or consent.
“The defendant administered anesthetics and neuromuscular blockers, causing rapid respiratory arrest,” prosecutors said. “The victims were not terminal in the strict sense and had not requested such treatment.”
Authorities believe the murders were committed without clear motive, beyond the doctor’s own intent to kill. Prosecutors have also charged him with arson, alleging that he attempted to set fire to the homes of some victims in order to destroy evidence.
According to DPA, investigators are currently examining 75 additional suspicious deaths connected to the doctor, meaning the total number of victims could still rise. Prosecutors are seeking a lifetime ban from medical practice for the accused.
For the latest on this developing story and more news from Germany, visit our Europe section.
#MedicalCrime #BerlinNews #LiveWorldUpdates #PatientSafety