Authorities in Berlin have brought murder charges against a physician over the deaths of 15 patients who were receiving palliative care, according to prosecutors.
The 40-year-old physician, whose identity remains undisclosed due to privacy regulations in Germany, is also accused of attempting to destroy evidence by setting fires in the homes of the deceased.
In custody since August 6, the charges have only recently been filed against him.
Initially, the physician was suspected in the deaths of four patients as part of a nursing service’s end-of-life care team.
However, the number of suspected cases has increased, and investigators now claim there is evidence connecting him to the deaths of 15 individuals between September 22, 2021, and July 24 of the previous year.
The deceased ranged in age from 25 to 94, with most passing away in their residences.
The doctor is alleged to have administered an anaesthetic and muscle relaxant to the patients without their consent or awareness.
This combination reportedly caused paralysis of the respiratory muscles, leading to respiratory failure and subsequent death within minutes, as stated by prosecutors.
Among the charges is the death of an 87-year-old woman in Neukölln. The doctor allegedly attempted to set her home ablaze in June 2024, but paramedics and the fire service managed to revive her upon arrival.
She later died in the hospital, according to NBC reports.
In a separate incident, the same doctor is accused of killing two individuals on the same day: a 75-year-old man and a 76-year-old woman.
He reportedly attempted unsuccessfully to ignite a fire in the woman’s home.
Prosecutors stated: “His attempt to set the apartment on fire is said to have failed, as the fire extinguished itself. When he noticed this, he allegedly informed a relative of the woman and claimed that he was standing in front of her apartment and no one was responding to the doorbell.”
The doctor has yet to address the accusations.
The Berlin state court is now tasked with determining whether the case will proceed to trial and the timeline for such proceedings.
Murder charges in Germany can result in a life sentence. Prosecutors intend to argue for the suspect to be deemed particularly culpable, which would prevent parole after 15 years, as is the norm.
They also seek a lifelong ban from medical practice for the suspect.
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