German Palliative Doctor Sentenced to Life for Killing 15 Patients, Authorities Suspect More Victims

A Berlin court sentenced a palliative care doctor to life imprisonment after convicting him of murdering 15 of his patients. The doctor, Johannes M., was found guilty of killing 12 women and three men aged between 25 and 94, over the period from September 2021 to July 2024. Authorities believe the confirmed cases represent only a fraction of the actual number of victims.

According to the indictment, Johannes M. administered lethal drug mixtures to his patients during home visits without their consent. Although the patients were critically ill, their deaths were not immediate. The doctor admitted to killing 12 patients, claiming he wanted to spare them suffering and apologized for the pain caused. In some instances, he attempted to cover his tracks by setting fire to patients' homes.

In July 2024, shortly before his arrest, he killed two patients in one day: a 75-year-old man in central Berlin and a 76-year-old woman in a nearby district. He unsuccessfully tried to burn down the woman’s house. Prosecutors are currently investigating 76 additional cases involving the doctor, which could make this one of Germany’s most severe serial murder cases.

Families of the victims expressed shock and grief, stating their loved ones wished to continue living, contradicting the doctor’s claims. Besides the life sentence, the court ordered preventive detention after the sentence and permanently banned him from practicing medicine. Johannes M. declared he will fully cooperate with ongoing legal proceedings.