Berlin, Germany – April 17, 2025
Authorities in Berlin have charged a 40-year-old palliative care doctor with murdering 15 patients, claiming he acted solely out of a chilling “lust for killing.” The case has shocked the nation and raised urgent concerns about patient safety in medical settings.
Prosecutors: Doctor Secretly Administered Deadly Drug Mix
According to prosecutors, the doctor—identified by local media as Johannes M.—killed 12 women and three men between September 2021 and July 2024. He allegedly injected them with a lethal combination of anesthetic and muscle relaxant, which caused respiratory arrest within minutes.
Importantly, the victims had no idea they had received these drugs. Authorities say the doctor gave the substances without the patients’ knowledge or consent, exploiting their vulnerable condition during palliative care.
Moreover, He Tried to Destroy Evidence Through Arson
In an attempt to hide his crimes, the doctor set fire to five of his victims’ homes, prosecutors claim. For example, on July 8, 2024, he allegedly killed two patients within hours—a 75-year-old man in Berlin’s Kreuzberg district, followed by a 76-year-old woman in Neukölln.
However, when one of his arson attempts failed, the doctor called the woman’s relative, pretending he was concerned after getting no response at her door.
Additionally, He Staged Emergencies to Avoid Suspicion
In another disturbing incident, the doctor contacted emergency services himself, fearing he would get caught. He falsely claimed to have attempted resuscitation on a 56-year-old woman, who briefly survived with medical intervention. Nevertheless, she died three days later in the hospital.
The Investigation Has Rapidly Expanded
Since police arrested the suspect in August 2024, investigators have significantly expanded the scope of the case. Initially, they suspected him in four deaths. Now, however, they have linked him to 15 murders and are reviewing 395 additional cases that may involve similar foul play.
So far, the special investigation team has launched preliminary inquiries in 95 cases. Moreover, forensic teams have already exhumed 12 bodies and plan to conduct five more exhumations soon.
Prosecutors Demand Lifetime Medical Ban and Detention
Given the severity of the crimes, prosecutors believe the doctor acted with premeditation and cruelty. They argue he killed purely for personal gratification, without any medical or emotional justification. As a result, they plan to seek a permanent ban from practicing medicine and push for preventative detention, which German law reserves for the most dangerous individuals.
“The suspect had no purpose beyond the act of killing,” prosecutors stated. “He acted with a cold and calculated lust for murder.”
Similarly, Another Medical Murder Trial Is Underway
This case closely resembles another one unfolding in Aachen, where a nurse is on trial for murdering nine patients. Prosecutors in that case say the nurse injected excessive sedatives to reduce his workload and saw himself as the “master of life and death.”
Public Reaction: Demands for Reform Intensify
Unsurprisingly, the Berlin case has sparked national outrage. As a result, health experts and the public are now demanding stronger oversight in palliative and home care practices. Many believe this tragedy highlights critical gaps in medical accountability.
Although the investigation is ongoing, authorities warn the true scale of the crimes may be even greater.