In a startling development, a Berlin-based palliative care doctor has been charged with the murders of 15 patients, prompting an extensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths. The charges were announced on April 16, 2025, with authorities revealing that they are also examining an additional 75 deaths under suspicious circumstances.
The unnamed doctor, aged 40, allegedly committed the murders over a three-year period from 2021 to 2024. Prosecutors claim he sedated patients using a powerful narcotic followed by a muscle relaxant, effectively stopping their breathing. Disturbingly, the doctor is accused of fire-related crimes intended to obfuscate his actions, including setting fire to the apartments of some victims and calling ambulances to mislead responders.
Should he be convicted of the charges, this doctor could become the most notorious serial killer in Europe since a male nurse was convicted of killing 85 patients two decades ago. While the maximum penalty for murder in Germany is life imprisonment, the unique and egregious nature of these crimes has prompted public prosecutors to request special security custody post-sentence to ensure community safety.
The palliative care physician has been held in Moabit Prison since August, following the arrest linked to the deaths of four patients. Investigators continue to compile evidence as they delve deeper into the disturbing case, raising urgent questions about ethics within the field of end-of-life care and the protective measures in place for vulnerable individuals.
