Hanover (Germany): A German doctor went on
trial today accused of killing 13 cancer patients in her care
who she said she was helping to live in dignity.
The doctor, Mechthild Bach, 59, is accused of killing the
patients between 2001 and 2003 at a hospital in Hanover with
the drugs morphine and valium.
She denies the manslaughter charges, however, saying it
was her job to help patients who were dying from cancer to
"live in dignity with as little pain as possible with as
little fear as possible."
The case came to light after a health insurance provider
investigating accusations in 2003 against another doctor came
across a suspiciously high usage of painkillers at the
hospital.
Several bodies were then exhumed and Bach was charged
with eight cases of manslaughter and struck off.
A first trial collapsed in 2008 because one of the judges
became seriously ill. Prosecutors have since increased the
number of charges.
Bureau Report
