A German nurse was sentenced to life for murdering 10 patients to reduce his workload, with investigators probing more possible victims.
Case Overview
A palliative care nurse in Wuerselen, western Germany, has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of murdering 10 patients and attempting to kill 27 others between December 2023 and May 2024. The man, whose identity has not been released under German privacy laws, had worked at the hospital since 2020. The victims were primarily elderly patients under his nighttime care. Authorities concluded that the killings occurred during overnight shifts at the hospital.
Sentencing and Court Findings
The court in Aachen delivered the life sentence after determining what it described as a “particular severity of guilt,” a legal classification that limits the chance of early parole after 15 years. Prosecutors argued that the nurse displayed irritation toward patients requiring intensive care and acted with a chilling sense of authority over life and death. The man is permitted to appeal the ruling, though legal experts say the severity designation sets a high barrier.
Motive and Method
According to prosecutors, the nurse injected patients with high doses of morphine and midazolam, sedative medications typically used in controlled medical care. Investigators stated he administered the drugs to ease his workload during night shifts rather than to treat medical need. The nurse’s actions, authorities conclude, were deliberate and repeated, targeting those least likely to resist or be observed.
Ongoing Investigation
Investigators continue to examine other deaths connected to the nurse’s career, including exhumations of former patients to search for evidence of similar drug administration. Officials say additional charges may follow if new victims are confirmed. The case has prompted renewed scrutiny of staffing conditions and oversight in German healthcare institutions.
Historical Context
The killings have drawn comparisons to the case of former nurse Niels Högel, who was convicted in 2019 of murdering 85 patients in northern Germany between 1999 and 2005. Högel remains one of the most prolific convicted killers in modern German history. The similarities have reignited national discussions on patient safety, monitoring systems during overnight shifts, and the psychological screening of healthcare workers.
