Overview

• The trial of a 78-year-old anesthesiologist began today at the Berlin Regional Court, nearly five years after the death of a 59-year-old patient in January 2020.
• The defendant is accused of failing to monitor the patient’s vital functions during general anesthesia, leading to undetected cardiac and respiratory arrest.
• Prosecutors allege the anesthesiologist did not properly inform arriving emergency physicians about the patient's condition and prior treatment steps.
• The patient, treated for a back condition, fell into a coma after resuscitation and died of pneumonia in April 2020 without regaining consciousness.
• The trial is scheduled for 13 days, running until July 17, 2025, with the defendant so far declining to testify.