German doctor faces charges for murdering 15 patients and concealing crimes by setting fires.

A German physician has been formally charged with the alleged murders of 15 patients, with the use of lethal substances, along with committing arson in an effort to conceal his actions. The 40-year-old doctor, whose identity remains undisclosed in accordance with German privacy laws, is implicated in the deaths of palliative care patients associated with a nursing service, as well as in setting fire to their residences to obscure his involvement.

According to statements from the Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office, the physician was initially apprehended in August, and the legal charges have been revised multiple times as new evidence and additional victims emerged. Officials have asserted that the defendant administered anesthetic agents and muscle relaxants to his patients without any legitimate medical justification and without their knowledge or consent. The consequences of administering such drugs reportedly led to rapid respiratory failure in the patients.

The deceased, consisting of three males and twelve females aged between 25 and 94, passed away between September 2021 and July 2024 while under the care of the nursing service affiliated with the doctor. Notably, two of the victims are said to have died within mere hours of each other in July of last year.

In a particularly disturbing case, the doctor allegedly ignited a fire in the apartment of an 87-year-old woman after administering the fatal combination of drugs. Although emergency responders initially managed to revive her, she succumbed to her injuries shortly after. Further investigations revealed that four additional crime scenes also exhibited signs of fire.

The Berlin Prosecutor’s Office has indicated that at least 75 further cases are now under scrutiny, with the possibility that the death toll could climb following additional exhumations. Investigators suggest that the nature of these crimes could be classified under the legal interpretation of “lust for murder.” In light of these grave allegations, authorities are pursuing preventative detention for the suspect and are advocating for a lifetime prohibition from practicing medicine. The doctor had previously been employed in various jurisdictions throughout Germany.

Media News Source stresses that the unfolding case has raised significant concerns regarding patient safety and the integrity of medical practices in palliative care settings.