Imprisoned for 15 years: Unqualified individual falsely posing as anesthesiologist
In Kassel, a former anesthesiologist, now 54, has received a 15-year prison sentence for causing the deaths of three patients and inflicting serious injury on ten others. The verdict, handed down by the Regional Court of Kassel, is significantly lighter than the initial sentence of life imprisonment with exceptionally severe penalties.
In May of this year, the same court had previously sentenced the woman to life in prison for three murders and ten attempted murders. However, the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) in Karlruhe partially overturned this decision, citing insufficient evidence of intent to kill and sending the case back for retrial.
Originally acquiring her position at a Fritzlar hospital with a forged certification, the woman worked there for years. During her initial trial, the 6th Large Criminal Chamber of the Regional Court of Kassel determined that her medical errors led to the deaths of three patients and severe injuries to others. The Chamber also determined the exceptional severity of the offense in 2022, making early release after 15 years nearly impossible.
During the subsequent retrial, the 10th Large Criminal Chamber found that the intent to kill could not be proven. The presiding judge, Christian Geisler, explained the decision as a failure to meet the necessary burden of proof. The plaintiffs had requested a reinstatement of the original life sentence for murder, but the defense argued for a sentence of seven to eight years for inflicting grievous bodily harm or eight years for grievous bodily harm resulting in death. The verdict remains non-binding at this stage.
Due to the sensitive nature of the case and the limited information available, further details regarding the factors leading to the Federal Court of Justice's overturning of the life sentence have not been conclusively determined.
The former anesthesiologist, following her retrial, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for causing the deaths of three patients and inflicting serious injury on ten others, with the court citing medical-conditions and health-and-wellness as key factors in their decision, despite initial evidence suggesting a more severe sentence. However, the presiding judge made it clear that the verdict remains non-binding at this stage, and the case may still be subject to further review in light of ongoing investigations.
