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Berlin Doctor Charged with Murder of Palliative Care Patients
A Berlin doctor faces serious allegations totaling murder charges for the deaths of 15 patients under palliative care. Prosecutors have reported that the physician is accused of acting out of a disturbing “lust” for causing death, and further claims suggest he attempted to conceal his actions by setting fires in the patients’ homes.
Part of a nursing service responsible for end-of-life care, the doctor was initially linked to only four patient deaths. However, following extensive investigations that began last summer, authorities have since connected him to a total of 15 fatalities, occurring from September 22, 2021, to July 24, 2022.
The deceased patients varied in age, ranging from 25 to 94 years, and most passed away in their homes, which raises significant concerns about the circumstances surrounding their care.
The suspect has been identified in German media reports as Johannes M., although prosecutors have withheld his full name in accordance with privacy regulations in Germany. The 40-year-old physician is alleged to have administered anesthetic and muscle relaxants to patients without their knowledge or consent, resulting in paralysis of the respiratory muscles and rapid death, the Berlin prosecutor’s office indicated in a statement.
According to investigative accounts, authorities suggest that the doctor’s motives extend beyond conventional reasoning, having classified his alleged actions under the legal term “lust for murder.” Prosecutors confirmed he has been in custody since August 6, and he has yet to provide a response regarding the accusations against him.
The murder charges have been officially submitted to the Berlin state court, which will determine whether the case will proceed to trial. If convicted, the doctor could face life imprisonment. Prosecutors have expressed their intention to seek a ruling that acknowledges particularly severe guilt, which would result in him being ineligible for any release after the standard 15-year term typical in Germany. Additionally, authorities are advocating for a lifetime ban from practicing medicine.
This case draws parallels to the high-profile instance of Niels Hoegel, a German nurse who was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 85 patients under his care. Hoegel, considered one of Germany’s most notorious serial killers, injected lethal substances into patients between 2000 and 2005 before being apprehended.
In a more recent incident, another caregiver in Germany, a 27-year-old male nurse identified as Mario G., was sentenced to life in prison in 2023 for murdering two patients through the deliberate administration of unauthorized medications. He was also found guilty on multiple counts of attempted murder.
In the UK, the case of neonatal nurse Lucy Letby, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of seven infants and attempting to murder six others, continues to be contentious. Recently, a panel of experts disputed the medical evidence leading to her conviction. An inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the deaths has faced legal challenges from Letby’s lawyers and former hospital executives, who seek to halt the investigation based on the panel’s findings.
Agence France-Presse contributed to this report.
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