Forensic aspects of healthcare-related murders: a series of homicides and attempted homicides committed by nurses in Italy

Abstract

The murder of patients entrusted to the care of healthcare professionals presents an exceptionally rare and complex scenario. The motivations of the perpetrators, usually termed "angels of death" by the media, are not uniform and are often intricate, resulting from a unique combination of individual factors. Among the most sinister motivations are the altruistic desire to end the suffering of severely ill patients—concealing narcissistic-omnipotent tendencies or pathological insecurity—or even the pursuit of pure sadistic gratification. Due to the unique and complex nature of this field, determining the cause of death and the manner in which these victims were murdered poses significant challenges in forensic science. This study presents a retrospective analysis of deceased patients under questionable circumstances, documenting 43 cases of suspected or attempted homicides perpetrated by healthcare personnel across four healthcare facilities in Italy between 2004 and 2019. Most of the victims were elderly, vulnerable, and frail, with 72% hospitalized and 28% residing in nursing homes. The most common methods of inducing death included anticoagulant drugs (37%), intravenous gas injection (35%), promazine and/or other psicotropic drugs (14%), and insulin (7%). The investigation of suspected serial homicides in healthcare settings revealed several critical forensic considerations: i) a timely collection of toxicological samples should be performed within the first few hours post-mortem, due to the rapid degradation of chemical compounds; ii) a comprehensive autopsy examination, complemented by ancillary investigations (e.g., histopathological, toxicological, microbiological, and radiological analyses) should be considered mandatory; iii) in suspected cases of drug administration, the pathologist should carefully analyse the injection site, while a thorough examination of the lungs and pulmonary arteries is crucial in suspected gas embolism; iv) in some cases, exhumation could be necessary. Finally, we propose an operational flowchart to help stakeholders identify potential red flags and recognize dangerous situations, as well as assist forensic pathologists in determining the cause of death in cases of suspicious or unexplained fatalities. This flowchart provides a structured framework for investigations, ensuring a systematic and comprehensive approach to identifying potential homicides in healthcare settings.