German Palliative Care Doctor Faces Murder Charges for 15 Patients

A Berlin-based palliative care doctor is charged with murdering 15 patients using lethal drugs, with potential for more victims as investigations continue. Authorities also allege he attempted to destroy evidence through arson.

A German doctor specializing in palliative care has been charged with the shocking murders of 15 of his patients, sparking outrage and disbelief across the nation. Prosecutors in Berlin have accused the 40-year-old medical professional of using lethal medications that led to the deaths of 12 women and three men between September 2021 and July 2024. In a disturbing twist, investigators claim the suspect set fire to the homes of some victims in an attempt to conceal his crimes.

Despite the serious allegations, the doctor—whose identity remains protected under German privacy laws—has reportedly not confessed to the charges. Prosecutors say he administered an anaesthetic combined with a muscle relaxant without the patients' knowledge or consent. This cocktail is believed to have caused respiratory failure, leading to death within minutes.

The suspect practiced in multiple German states, and the ages of the deceased patients range between 25 and 94. Disturbingly, it has been alleged that he carried out the murders on the same day in July 2024, taking the lives of a 75-year-old man and a 76-year-old woman within hours of each other. Evidence suggests the doctor tried to ignite a fire in the woman’s residence to further obscure his role in the events.

Originally arrested in August 2024 for the suspected murders of four patients, further investigations have revealed a growing list of suspicious deaths, leading to plans for additional exhumations. Authorities are advocating for a "lifelong professional ban" and "preventative detention" for the suspect, who currently remains in custody as the probe unfolds.