German Palliative Care Doctor Charged with Murdering 15 Patients

German authorities have charged a palliative care doctor with the murders of 15 patients over a span of nearly three years. The 40-year-old suspect is accused of using lethal drugs and attempting to cover up the killings by setting fire to the victims' homes. Prosecutors fear that the number of victims may increase as the investigation unfolds.

A German palliative care doctor is facing murder charges after being accused of killing 15 of his patients through the illicit administration of lethal drugs. The 40-year-old suspect reportedly committed these crimes between September 2021 and July 2024, targeting 12 women and three men whose ages ranged from 25 to 94.

According to prosecutors in Berlin, the doctor used a combination of an anaesthetic and a muscle relaxant to cause fatal respiratory arrest without the patients' knowledge or consent. In a disturbing turn of events, he is also accused of setting fire to the homes of at least five victims to mask his actions.

The investigation into the doctor’s conduct initially began when he was suspected of four murders upon his arrest in August 2024. However, further inquiries have exposed several other suspicious deaths, prompting prosecutors to conduct exhumations of additional potential victims. The doctor is alleged to have killed two patients in a single day in July 2024, highlighting the urgency of the case.

In light of the grave nature of the accusations, prosecutors are seeking a "lifelong professional ban" and "preventative detention" for the accused, who is currently in custody and has denied the charges against him. As the case unfolds, authorities remain vigilant about the possibility of uncovering more victims connected to this chilling healthcare scandal.