Trial of Palliative Care Doctor in Berlin Accused of Killing 15 Patients
The trial of a German doctor specializing in palliative care begins today, Monday, July 14, in front of the Regional Court of Berlin, accused of killing 15 patients between 2021 and 2024. The indictment alleges that the 40-year-old doctor gave his patients a "deadly mix of different medications" without a "medical indication and without their knowledge and consent."
The public prosecutor's office accused the doctor of murder out of base motives and despicable motives, as he is suspected of involvement in the deaths of 12 women and 3 men during his work in a healthcare service in Berlin. The ages of the victims range between 25 and 94 years old, according to the prosecution.
The court has scheduled 35 hearing sessions until January 28, 2026, with the participation of 13 relatives of the victims as civil claimants. It is expected that around 150 witnesses will be called during the trial, with several witnesses in each case.
Judicial sources reported that a special team from the homicide department of the Berlin Criminal Police analyzed hundreds of patient files, and 72 other cases are still under review.
The doctor, a father and husband, refused to comment on the charges against him, according to his defense and the public prosecutor. It is worth mentioning that palliative care doctors work to alleviate the pain of patients suffering from serious illnesses, adding a tragic dimension to the case.
