Coma-Killer Berlin 2012

Coma-Killer Berlin 2012

In the summer of 2012, Berlin police investigated a serious case on the intensive care unit at Charité Hospital: several patients had fallen into comas without any apparent cause following insulin injections. Their clinical deterioration was inexplicable to doctors until the hospital alerted authorities.

The Discovery

The ward had noticed an unusual pattern: multiple patients without pre-existing diabetes were being treated with large insulin doses. Their blood sugar levels dropped dramatically, sending them into life-threatening hypoglycemic comas. Hospital management became aware that the doses were being prescribed without orders from responsible physicians.

A 42-year-old German nurse was suspected of injecting patients with insulin without medical indication. Her motivation was believed to be a desire for attention or pathological control over patients—a phenomenon known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy.

The Investigation

Criminal police and hospital management launched a thorough investigation of all her work shifts. Several patients recalled being wet around injection sites or hearing her discuss administering medicine without a doctor's order. Blood tests confirmed insulin overdose poisoning in at least six cases.

The nurse was arrested and later confessed to injecting patients with insulin without medical authorization. However, she claimed it had only happened in a few cases, whereas the charges encompassed more incidents than her own confession documented.