Police Visit by Chief on Palliative Care Doctor's Murder Trial - Police pursue murder trial against accused palliative doctor
In Berlin, the trial of palliative care doctor Johannes M., aged 40, commenced in July 2025. The defendant is charged with the murder of 15 gravely ill patients under his care between September 2021 and July 2024.
The prosecution alleges that Dr. M. administered lethal injections of anesthetics and muscle relaxants without the patients' knowledge or consent, causing their respiratory muscles to paralyse and leading to their deaths within minutes. The victims, aged between 25 and 94, mostly died at home.
The Berlin Public Prosecutor's Office accuses Dr. M. of committing murder by deception and out of low motives, with premeditated malice and base motives, aiming to control life and death. In some cases, it is suggested that he covered up his crimes by setting fires in the victims' apartments.
The trial is notable for the abuse of palliative care patients who were seriously ill but not imminently dying, raising ethical and legal concerns regarding medical malpractice and intentional homicide within healthcare.
The prosecution seeks a conviction with a "particularly serious" classification, which would mean no parole after 15 years, a life ban on practicing medicine, and preventive detention. Dr. M. has been in custody since August 6, 2024, and has so far declined to speak in court or with psychiatric experts.
A medical doctor has taken the stand as a witness, testifying about an unusually high number of patients under Dr. M.'s care who had died. The witness, who was Dr. M.'s former boss, described him as "very accommodating, very polite, helpful, and eager" initially. However, the witness also reported some peculiarities, including a shouting incident and an apology about many patient deaths over Easter.
The defendant worked in the Berlin-Neukölln area with the witness since January 2024 as part of a newly established palliative team. The witness also noted that Dr. M. always carried a large backpack full of medications.
Investigations are ongoing into dozens of other suspected cases potentially linked to Dr. M., including the suspicious death of his mother-in-law in 2024. So far, 15 cases have been exhumed and examined by forensic medicine.
The trial will continue on August 13. The case has raised significant concerns within the medical community and among the public, highlighting the importance of ethical and legal standards in healthcare.
[1] Berliner Morgenpost, "Palliative care doctor accused of murdering 15 patients goes on trial in Berlin," July 14, 2025. [2] Deutsche Welle, "German palliative care doctor accused of murdering patients," July 14, 2025. [3] Spiegel Online, "Palliative care doctor in Berlin accused of murdering patients," July 14, 2025. [4] Tagesspiegel, "Palliative care doctor in Berlin accused of murdering patients," July 14, 2025.
- This tragic case has prompted a review of the community policy and employment policy within the medical field, aiming to establish stricter guidelines and oversight to prevent such atrocities.
- The growing public interest in this case has led to numerous discussions about the intersection of science, medical-conditions, health-and-wellness, and general-news, particularly focusing on ethical dilemmas in end-of-life care.
- As the trial progresses, various media outlets, including local newspapers like Berliner Morgenpost, Deutsche Welle, Spiegel Online, and Tagesspiegel, have highlighted crime-and-justice issues arising from this case, such as the implications for law enforcement and the legal system in handling healthcare-related crimes.
