A German palliative care doctor has been sentenced to life imprisonment after a Berlin court convicted him of murdering 15 patients under his care, claiming he was ending their suffering.
The 41-year-old physician, identified only as Johannes M. under Germany’s privacy laws, was found guilty of killing 12 women and three men during home visits between September 2021 and July 2024.
During the trial, the doctor admitted to killing 12 seriously ill patients, telling the court he believed he was sparing them from pain and suffering. He also apologised to the victims’ families, saying he had convinced himself that his actions were the right thing to do. However, the court rejected his justification and ruled that the killings were unlawful.
Prosecutors said the doctor administered a lethal combination of an anaesthetic and a muscle relaxant to patients without their knowledge or consent, causing respiratory failure and death within minutes. Some victims were reportedly between 25 and 94 years old, with most dying in their homes.
The court also found that the doctor attempted to conceal some of the killings by setting fire to the homes of certain victims after their deaths. It ruled that the crimes demonstrated “particularly severe guilt,” resulting in a life sentence and a permanent ban from practising medicine.
Authorities revealed that the case may be far larger than the 15 confirmed murders. Investigators are currently examining 76 additional suspicious deaths, with prosecutors indicating that further charges could follow as the investigation continues. (AP News)
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