German Doctor on Trial for Allegedly Murdering 15 Patients in Palliative Care

A trial has commenced in Berlin for a 40-year-old German doctor accused of murdering 15 patients who were receiving palliative care. The prosecutor's office has laid 15 counts of murder against him, citing premeditated intent and other alarming motives, and is advocating for a conviction that would label his guilt as especially severe. This classification could prevent him from being released on parole after 15 years, which is typically the case in Germany.

The doctor, referred to as Johannes M. due to Germany's privacy laws, has been in custody since early August. Initial suspicions regarding his involvement in the deaths of four patients have since escalated, leading prosecutors to now allege he caused the deaths of 15 individuals between September 2021 and July 2022. These patients ranged from 25 to 94 years old, and most died in their respective homes.

Allegations suggest that the doctor administered a combination of anesthetic and muscle relaxants without the patients' consent, which resulted in respiratory paralysis and death shortly afterward. Although he declined an interview with a psychiatric expert before the trial, the expert will work to assess his personality and potential culpability based on courtroom observations and witness testimonies.

The motives behind the doctor's alleged actions remain unclear, although all of the victims were seriously ill at the time of their deaths, which were not deemed imminent. During the proceedings, it was noted that the court has scheduled 35 trial dates extending into early 2026, with over a dozen relatives of the deceased acting as co-plaintiffs. Each case may involve multiple witnesses, amounting to around 150 individuals who could provide testimony.

Among the allegations is a specific incident involving a 56-year-old woman whom the doctor allegedly treated without proper medical justification. After administering the drugs, he falsely claimed to have found her in a critical state, prompting emergency assistance which ultimately resulted in her survival for a brief period before her death at a hospital.

Investigators are still working through a backlog of additional cases tied to this physician, with 395 instances reviewed, 95 of which led to preliminary actions. Some remaining investigations could also include exhumations, one of which pertains to the doctor’s own mother-in-law, who passed away during a visit from him. This case is reminiscent of a previous incident in 2019, when another German caregiver received a life sentence for the murder of 87 patients.