A nurse in Germany has received a life sentence after being found guilty of murdering 10 patients and attempting to kill 27 more using lethal injections, all reportedly to make her job easier. The crimes occurred at a hospital in Wuerselen, near Aachen, between December 2023 and May 2024.
Prosecutors revealed that the nurse injected mainly elderly patients with high doses of sedatives and painkillers, including morphine and midazolam, the latter a muscle relaxant also used in U.S. executions. The motive was chillingly practical: to reduce the burden of night-shift duties.
The court highlighted the nurse’s lack of empathy, describing her as having a severe personality disorder and showing no remorse during the trial. Authorities painted a picture of a healthcare professional who worked without motivation, irritation toward her patients, and no compassion for those in intensive care.
Due to the gravity of her actions, the sentence was classified with “particular severity of guilt,” meaning she will not be eligible for early release after 15 years, as is typically possible under German law. The case has sent shockwaves through the German healthcare system and raised serious concerns about patient safety.
