German doctor accused of killing 15 patients and setting fires to conceal crimes

A chilling true crime case has shocked Germany and the global medical community, as a 40-year-old palliative care doctor in Berlin is facing charges that he killed at least 15 patients and set fires to conceal his crimes. 

Authorities say the physician administered lethal doses of anesthetics and muscle relaxants to terminally ill individuals. By doing so, authorities allege he bypassed medical protocols and consent, according to a translated statement from the Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office. 

The doctor’s name has not been publicly released due to German privacy laws. Reports say he has worked in multiple healthcare facilities across Berlin.

According to prosecutors, the murders occurred between September 2021 and July 2024. The suspect reportedly took advantage of his role in end-of-life care to select vulnerable elderly or critically ill patients.

Pattern of suspicious deaths

German palliative doctor charged with 15 counts of murder https://t.co/d3CyQffxAS pic.twitter.com/ysLZmEVb1e

— Reuters (@Reuters) April 16, 2025

Authorities were first alerted to the man’s alleged crimes after a series of unusual fires broke out in the homes of his patients who had died. Upon further investigation, fire marshals and police uncovered a pattern. Toxicology reports revealed that some of the victims had extremely high levels of anesthetic agents. Surgeons typically use those in procedures under strict supervision.

In each case, the suspect was reportedly the last medical professional to attend to the patient before their death. Investigators now believe he deliberately overdosed the patients and then set fire to their residences to eliminate forensic evidence. In some instances, the bodies were so badly burned that initial cause-of-death assessments were inconclusive.

A calculated cover-up

The prosecutor emphasized that the case is unprecedented in its scope and disturbing methodology. “This goes beyond malpractice or negligence. We are dealing with premeditated murder … The suspect is accused not only of murder but of arson as a means of covering up his actions,” a spokesperson for the Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office said regarding the case, adding, “This was not a case of euthanasia or assisted dying. These were intentional, unconsented killings carried out under the guise of medical care.”

According to People, authorities believe the doctor may have set as many as six fires in an attempt to cover his tracks. He was placed under investigation in mid-2024 after forensic evidence contradicted his account of a patient’s death, and he has been in pretrial detention since August 2024.

No consent, no documentation

German doctor charged with murdering 15 patients, covering up crimes with fires https://t.co/OcI1g5bz1a

— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) April 16, 2025

According to the investigation, there were no requests for palliative sedation. Nor were there any requests for assisted suicide on file for any of the victims. German law allows for assisted death under strict conditions, including the patient’s informed and documented consent. None of the 15 individuals had submitted such requests.

The German Medical Association has expressed outrage and concern. “If the charges are proven, this is a catastrophic breach of medical ethics and trust,” Dr. Klaus Reinhardt, president of the organization, said. “Medical professionals are entrusted with life-and-death decisions, and this kind of betrayal cannot be tolerated.”

Legal and public repercussions

If convicted, the doctor could face life imprisonment. German courts treat premeditated murder and arson extremely seriously, especially in cases involving vulnerable individuals. Legal experts expect a lengthy trial, with testimony from medical experts, fire investigators, and families of the victims.

The case has sparked nationwide debate over how patients in palliative care are monitored. Some are now asking whethere additional safeguards should be implemented to prevent similar abuse. Public outrage has also led to calls for greater transparency in medical oversight.

In the meantime, families of the deceased continue to seek answers and justice.

“We trusted him with our father’s life,” one bereaved family member told German news outlet Der Tagesspiegel in a statement translated to English.  “Now we don’t know if he was helped or murdered.”

As investigations continue, more victims may be identified in what is already one of Germany’s most haunting medical crime stories in recent memory.

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