Healthcare serial murder: Difference between revisions

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Created page with "{{a|crime|}}We characterise “healthcare serial murder” cases as ones where: {{healthcare serial murder capsule}} The case par excellence is Harold Shipman, a British doctor, who systematically murdered hundreds of elderly patients by administering lethal doses of medication, exploiting the trust placed in him as their healthcare provider. Other famous cases are a little less edifying for the legal profession: *'''Lucia de Berk''': A Dutch nurse wrongly convicted of m..."
 
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{{a|crime|}}We characterise “healthcare serial murder” cases as ones where: {{healthcare serial murder capsule}}
{{a|crime|}}We characterise “healthcare serial murder” cases as follows: {{healthcare serial murder capsule}}
The case par excellence is Harold Shipman, a British doctor, who systematically murdered hundreds of elderly patients by administering lethal doses of medication, exploiting the trust placed in him as their healthcare provider. Other famous cases are a little less edifying for the legal profession:
====The classic case?====
*'''Lucia de Berk''': A Dutch nurse wrongly convicted of multiple murders due to statistical errors and misinterpretation of medical evidence. Her conviction was later overturned.
{{Drop|H|'''{{plainlink|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Shipman|Harold Shipman}}''', a}} British doctor who systematically murdered hundreds of elderly patients by administering lethal doses of medication, exploiting the trust placed in him as their doctor is often cited as the [[healthcare serial murder|healthcare serial murderer]] ''par excellence'', but he wasn’t ''quite'' the classic case, as the majority of his murders took place ''away from'' a medical facility and in the patients’ homes, where there would be no witnesses, security devices or cameras that might record his action. The circumstantial evidence (when people knew to look for it) that implicated Shipman was both overwhelming and strong, and (at least in the end) he had a financial motive — though this might not have been present earlier.
*'''Susan Nelles''': A Canadian nurse accused of murdering infants; charges were dropped due to lack of evidence.
*'''Colin Norris''': A British nurse convicted of murdering patients by insulin injection; his conviction was later overturned due to flawed medical evidence.
*'''Daniela Poggiali''': An Italian nurse accused of murdering patients in a hospital. She was initially convicted but later acquitted on appeal due to a lack of conclusive evidence.
*'''Jane Bolding''': A British nurse accused of murdering patients in her care. She was acquitted after a retrial due to lack of evidence.


And then there are some other, um, interesting cases: {{L1}}
====Some examples of apparent healthcare serial murderers====
'''Ben Geen'''
The other famous cases are a little less edifying for the legal profession:
{{L3}}'''Situation:''' An unusually high number of patient deaths occurred on a ward at Horton General Hospital where Ben Geen was employed as a nurse. The circumstances of many of these deaths involved respiratory failure.<li>
{{divhelvetica|{{small|80}}{{healthcare serial murderers table}}</div>}}
'''Suspicion:''' The primary reason for suspecting Geen was the statistical anomaly of a disproportionate number of patient deaths and collapses occurring on his shifts compared to other nurses.<li>
'''Direct Evidence:''' There was no direct evidence, such as CCTV footage or eyewitness accounts, of Geen harming patients.<li>
'''Evidence Implicating Suspect:''' The main circumstantial evidence was the statistical correlation between Geen's shifts and the number of respiratory arrests. Additionally, traces of muscle relaxants were found in some patients, although this evidence was not conclusive.<li>
'''Evidence of Foul Play:''' While the pattern of deaths was unusual and suggestive of deliberate harm, the ultimate cause of death in many cases was determined to be natural causes. The presence of muscle relaxants in some patients raised suspicions of foul play but did not definitively prove it.</ol><li>
'''Colin Norris'''
{{l3}}'''Situation''': A cluster of unexplained deaths occurred on Ward 42 of the Leeds General Infirmary, where Colin Norris worked as a nurse. The victims were elderly female patients. <li>
'''Suspicion''': Norris was present during a disproportionate number of patient deaths and collapses. There were concerns about his excessive overtime and his apparent enjoyment of the drama surrounding patient crises. <li>
'''Direct Evidence''': No direct evidence of Norris administering lethal substances or physically harming patients was found. <li>
'''Evidence Implicating Suspect''': A syringe containing insulin was found hidden in Norris's locker. Witnesses reported seeing Norris “acting suspiciously” around patients, including one instance where he was seen injecting a patient.
Norris had conducted internet searches related to insulin poisoning and patient deaths. <li>
'''Evidence of Foul Play''': Post-mortem examinations revealed abnormally high levels of insulin in the blood of some victims. Medical experts concluded that the insulin levels were inconsistent with accidental overdose or diabetic conditions. The pattern of deaths and the victims' profiles suggested a deliberate act of harm.

Latest revision as of 12:32, 29 October 2024

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We characterise “healthcare serial murder” cases as follows:

  1. Situation: An unusual increase in deaths or medical incidents at a controlled hospital or care facility exceeding statistical averages for that facility and for which there is no obvious “innocent” explanation.
  2. Suspect: A given carer or medical professional was present for all the incidents.
  3. No direct evidence: There is no reliable direct evidence of the identified carer actually harming any of the patients.
  4. “Small arrows”: There are many pieces of weak circumstantial evidence pointing to (or at least consistent with) the carer’s involvement, but which, when taken individually, do not strongly implicate the carer.
  5. No motive: The suspect has no apparent motive.
  6. No criminal propensity: The suspect has no record of violence, antisocial behaviour or mental illness other than the alleged offending.

The classic case?

HHarold Shipman, a British doctor who systematically murdered hundreds of elderly patients by administering lethal doses of medication, exploiting the trust placed in him as their doctor is often cited as the healthcare serial murderer par excellence, but he wasn’t quite the classic case, as the majority of his murders took place away from a medical facility and in the patients’ homes, where there would be no witnesses, security devices or cameras that might record his action. The circumstantial evidence (when people knew to look for it) that implicated Shipman was both overwhelming and strong, and (at least in the end) he had a financial motive — though this might not have been present earlier.

Some examples of apparent healthcare serial murderers

The other famous cases are a little less edifying for the legal profession:

The “healthcare serial murder” cases
Name Date Sex Situation Reason for suspicion Direct evidence Key evidence Evidence of foul play Motive Tendency Outcome Appeal
Jessie McTavish (Scotland) 1974 F Victims found with inexplicable quantity of pethidine Defendant witnessed injecting patient with phenobarbitone Statements, apparent admission to police Blood tests, admission of injections. Awareness of insuline as an MO for murder. Post-mortem forensics consistent with poisoning. None. None. Convicted. Acquitted on a technicality.
Susan Nelles
(Canada)		 1981 F Unusually high number of infant deaths.
Initially attributed to natural causes		 Suspect was present during a disproportionate number of incidents.
A pattern of sudden deterioration when suspect took over their care.		 None. Shift pattern analysis.
Witnesses saw suspect “behaving suspiciously” around patients.		 Post-mortem forensics consistent with poisoning. Expert opinion that deaths were “not natural”. None. None. Charges dropped due to lack of evidence. N/A
Genene Jones (USA) 1982 F Unusually high number of infant deaths. Puncture marks in bottle of paralytic drug None Only suspect had access to the succinylcholine Puncture marks in bottle None. None. Convicted None.
Marianne Nölle (Germany) 1984 F Unusually high number of elderly deaths. Initially attributed to natural causes Suspect was present during a disproportionate number of incidents. A pattern of sudden deterioration when suspect took over their care. None Lethal dose found in patient’s system administered while suspect on duty. Reports from patients. None. None. None. Convicted None.
Beverley Allitt
(UK)		 1991 F Unusually high number of child deaths. Post-mortem forensics consistent with non-accidental poisoning. Suspect was present during a disproportionate number of incidents.
A pattern of sudden deterioration when suspect took over their care.		 None. Shift pattern analysis.
Suspect signed out medications that were found in lethal doses in the victims.		 Post-mortem forensics consistent with poisoning.
Witnesses saw suspect “behaving suspiciously” around patients.		 None. Some evidence of attention-seeking behaviour and prior mental illness. Convicted. None.
Kristen Gilbert (US) 1996 F Disproportionate number of deaths of low risk patients. Other nurses reported concerns about high levels of cardiac deaths. None. Motivation, access to epi­nephrine, the medical evidence of victim’s symptoms, peripheral behaviour. Post-mortem forensics consistent with poisoning. Reconciliation with/retaliation against ex-husband. History of psychiatric illness, violence, suicide attempts, behaviour on suspicion (called in a hoax bomb threat, left hospital). Convicted. None.
Jane Bolding
(USA)		 1998 F Unusually high number of adult deaths. Suspect was present during a disproportionate number of incidents. None. An alleged confession obtained through coercive methods, was later retracted, and excluded from the trial. Shift pattern analysis. Post-mortem forensics consistent with poisoning. None. None. Convicted. Acquitted on retrial due to lack of evidence.
Colin Norris
(UK)		 2002 M Unusually high number of adult deaths. Suspect was present during a disproportionate number of incidents. None. Shift pattern analysis.
Witnesses saw suspect “behaving suspiciously” around patients.		 Post-mortem forensics consistent with poisoning. Missing insulin from hospital fridge accessed by Norris immediately before death. Inspired by Jesse McTavish? Theft, behavioural problems. Convicted. Active campaign.
Ben Geen
(UK)		 2003 M Unusually high number of adult deaths. Suspect was present during a disproportionate number of incidents. None. Shift pattern analysis.
A syringe containing insulin was found hidden in suspect’s locker.		 Post-mortem forensics consistent with poisoning. None. None. Convicted. Active campaign.
Lucia de Berk
(Netherlands)		 2010 F Unusually high number of deaths (from infants to elderly). Suspect was present during a disproportionate number of incidents.
A pattern of sudden deterioration when suspect took over their care.		 None. Shift pattern analysis.
Witnesses saw suspect “behaving suspiciously” around patients.		 Post-mortem forensics consistent with poisoning. None. None. Convicted. Acquitted on retrial.
Use of statistics heavily criticised.
Victorino Chua (UK)[1] 2011 M Experienced nurse noticed a sudden and inexplicable drop in patients’ blood sugar levels. Saline bags clearly sabotaged. Patient dosages amended by Chua. Aggressive behaviour in one case. None. Shift pattern analysis. Saline bags clearly sabotaged. None. None. Convicted. None.
Rebecca Leighton (UK)[2] 2011 F Experienced nurse noticed a sudden and inexplicable drop in patients’ blood sugar levels. Tampering with saline solution. None. Leighton had access, was present at the scene and was found in possession of prescription drugs. Post-mortem forensics consistent with poisoning. None. Theft (of prescription drugs — for her own use!) Charges dropped due to insufficient evidence. N/A
Daniela Poggiali
(Italy)		 2014 F Unusually high number of adult deaths. Suspect was present during a disproportionate number of incidents. None. Shift pattern analysis.
Witnesses saw suspect “behaving suspiciously” around patients.		 Post-mortem forensics consistent with poisoning. None. None. Convicted. Acquitted on retrial.
Use of statistics heavily criticised.
Lucy Letby
(UK)		 2015-6 F Unusually high number of infant deaths.
Multiple apparent causes.
Initially attributed to natural causes		 Suspect was present during a disproportionate number of incidents.
A pattern of sudden deterioration when suspect took over their care.		 None.
Witnesses saw suspect “behaving suspiciously” around patients.		 Shift pattern analysis. Post-mortem forensics consistent with poisoning. Expert opinion that deaths were “not natural”. None. None. Convicted. Active campaign.
  1. ↑ See also Rebecca Leighton, charged for the same 2011 Stepping Hill Hospital poisoning incident.
  2. ↑ See also Victorinho Chua, charged and convicted for the same 2011 Stepping Hill Hospital poisoning incident.
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