Nurse Who Killed 10 Patients To Ease Night Shift Workload Gets Life In Prison, In Germany

A palliative care nurse in Germany has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of murdering 10 patients and attempting to murder 27 others at the Rhein-Maas-Klinikum in Würselen, Germany.

The crimes, committed between December 2023 and May 2024, have sent shockwaves through the healthcare community and renewed calls for stronger safeguards to protect patients from abuse within medical settings.

 

A Pattern of Disturbing Behavior

Prosecutors said the 44-year-old nurse, whose name has not been made public under German privacy laws, injected mostly elderly patients with painkillers or sedatives—including morphine and midazolam—in lethal or excessive doses.

His alleged motive: to make his night shifts quieter and reduce his workload.

Many of the victims were terminally ill, but others were stable and preparing for discharge, suggesting an alarming indifference toward human life. In court, prosecutors accused him of acting as the “master of life and death.”

The man had worked at the Würselen hospital since 2020 after completing his nursing training in 2007. According to prosecutors, he often showed “irritation” toward patients who required more attention or complex care.

How the Investigation Began

The case first came to light in July 2024, when hospital management noticed a sharp drop in patient deaths during the nurse’s vacation. Suspicious of a pattern, the hospital alerted authorities, sparking a major investigation.

The victims included both terminally ill patients and those preparing for discharge, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the alleged crimes. This wide range of targets suggests that no patient was safe from the nurse's alleged actions, regardless of their condition or prognosis.

Initially, the nurse was charged with five murders and 25 attempted murders, but as investigators uncovered more evidence—including through the exhumation of multiple bodies—the charges expanded.

The Verdict: Life Sentence Without Early Release

This week, the Aachen Regional Court found the nurse guilty on all major counts and handed down a life sentence, citing a “particular severity of guilt.” This designation means he will not be eligible for early release after 15 years, a rare and severe measure in German law.

He remains eligible to appeal the verdict.

During the trial, prosecutors described his actions as a deliberate and callous betrayal of the nursing profession, driven by selfish motives.

More Victims Possible

Investigators are continuing to examine several other suspicious deaths linked to his tenure at the hospital, raising the possibility of additional charges. Prosecutors have confirmed that more exhumations are underway to identify further potential victims.

For many in the nursing community, the tragedy is not only about justice for the victims but also about restoring public trust in a profession built on compassion and integrity.

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Crime