A 40-year-old German palliative care doctor has been charged with the murder of 15 patients in a chilling case that has rocked the country’s healthcare sector. Berlin prosecutors allege the doctor used a lethal mix of drugs to kill his patients and even attempted to set fires at crime scenes to destroy evidence.
The suspect, whose identity remains undisclosed due to Germany’s strict privacy laws, is accused of administering a combination of an anaesthetic and a muscle relaxant without the patients’ consent. The muscle relaxant, according to prosecutors, caused paralysis of the respiratory system, leading to rapid death within minutes.
The alleged murders, involving 12 women and three men aged between 25 and 94, are believed to have taken place between September 2021 and July 2024. Prosecutors have indicated that the number of victims could rise as investigations continue and further exhumations are planned.
Authorities say the suspect committed the killings while practicing in multiple German states. In five instances, he is accused of attempting to cover his tracks by setting fire to the victims’ homes. In one particularly disturbing case in July 2024, the doctor allegedly killed two patients within hours of each other—a 75-year-old man in central Berlin and a 76-year-old woman in a nearby district. He reportedly tried to ignite a fire at the woman’s residence but failed. Prosecutors said he later contacted a relative of the woman and falsely claimed she hadn’t responded to his ringing at the door.
The doctor was first arrested in August 2024 on suspicion of killing four patients. However, subsequent investigations have widened the scope of the case, uncovering more suspicious deaths linked to his care.
Despite the mounting evidence, the doctor has not admitted to the charges. Prosecutors are seeking a lifelong ban from the medical profession and preventative detention for the suspect, who remains in custody as the case develops.
The case has sparked national debate over patient safety and oversight within Germany’s healthcare system. Legal experts and medical watchdogs are calling for tighter regulations and improved vetting processes for healthcare professionals, especially those working with vulnerable patients in palliative care.
Authorities continue to examine the full extent of the suspect’s actions, and more charges could follow as the investigation progresses. The case stands as one of the most serious breaches of medical trust in recent German history, drawing widespread media attention and public concern.
