- By Shivangi Sharma
- Mon, 14 Jul 2025 07:58 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A shocking case has gripped Germany as a 40-year-old palliative care specialist, identified by German media as Johannes M, goes on trial in Berlin, accused of murdering 15 patients with lethal doses of sedatives between September 2021 and July 2024.
Prosecutors allege that Johannes M, under the guise of providing end-of-life care, administered fatal injections to his patients, 12 women and 3 men, aged between 25 and 94. Some of the deaths occurred at patients’ homes, with five incidents reportedly followed by intentional fires, allegedly to destroy evidence and mask the crimes.
Trial Begins
At the Berlin State Court, prosecutor Philipp Meyhoefer opened the trial by stating that the accused “visited his patients under the pretext of providing medical care,” but did so with the premeditated intention to kill. Meyhoefer stressed that the doctor had “no motive other than killing”, and that he exploited the trust of patients and families in vulnerable moments.
Johannes M has been in custody since August 6, 2024, initially linked to four suspicious deaths. As investigations expanded, the number of victims grew, now totalling 15 confirmed cases, with an additional 75 still under investigation. A special task force has reviewed 395 deaths, and preliminary proceedings have begun in 95 cases.
Victims and Modus Operandi
The alleged victims were mostly under palliative care and died in their homes. In some cases, fire was used to cover up the crime scene. One victim was Johannes M.’s own mother-in-law, who died under mysterious circumstances in Poland earlier in 2024, shortly after he and his spouse visited.
Investigators believe he routinely sedated patients using powerful drugs, then administered a fatal dose while they were unconscious. Johannes M. previously trained as a radiologist and general practitioner before specialising in palliative care.
Echoes Of Dark Past
This case is drawing comparisons to that of Niels Högel, a German nurse sentenced to life in prison in 2019 for the murder of 85 patients. In both cases, medical professionals allegedly used their position to prey on the vulnerable, causing national outrage and demanding stricter oversight in the healthcare system.
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Prosecutors are now pursuing a life sentence for Johannes M as the investigation unfolds and new evidence continues to emerge. With five exhumations still pending, German authorities are bracing for the possibility of uncovering even more victims in one of the country's most disturbing modern medical crime cases.
