German Nurse Jailed for Life After Killing 10 Patients to 'Ease Workload'

 

A Nightmare on the Ward

The job of a palliative care nurse is one of compassion, demanding dedication and empathy, especially during the quiet, challenging hours of the night shift. But in a horrifying case that has shocked Germany, one nurse turned this duty on its head, choosing murder over care to make his shift easier.

A court in Aachen has delivered a life sentence to a former palliative care nurse for the murder of 10 patients and the attempted killing of 27 others between December 2023 and May 2024. His motive? He wanted to lighten his workload.

"Master of Life and Death"

Prosecutors revealed that the 44-year-old nurse, who has not been publicly named, exhibited "irritation" and a profound lack of empathy towards patients requiring extensive care. The victims were mostly elderly and terminally ill—the most vulnerable individuals under his charge.

To ensure an undisturbed night, the nurse administered excessive doses of potent sedatives, specifically morphine and midazolam, to his patients. Essentially, he chose to silence the very people he was meant to comfort, a chilling act that prosecutors described as him playing the "master of life and death."

The Fall and the Aftermath

The crimes took place at a hospital in Wuerselen, western Germany. The alarm was raised in 2024 after staff and doctors noted an unusually high number of sudden patient deteriorations during the nurse's shifts. He was arrested, and the investigation is far from over, with several bodies currently being exhumed to see if more patients were harmed.

The court recognized the extreme nature of the crimes, declaring a “particular severity of guilt.” This specific finding means the nurse will be barred from an early release after the standard 15 years, ensuring he will likely spend the remainder of his life behind bars.

This tragic case is a painful reminder of previous medical killings in Germany, such as the 2019 conviction of former nurse Niels Hogel, who murdered 85 patients, underscoring the vital trust placed in medical professionals and the devastating consequences when that trust is betrayed.