title: [In Process Citation]
abstract: In this survey 16 cases were analysed where members of the Health Service repeatedly committed homicides of patients in hospitals and nursing-homes. The data were selected from legal documents and publications. The object was to receive detailed information about the victims, the offenders and the places where the crimes were committed. The working environment was examined with regard to the work-place atmosphere, the position of the offender in the social order, persistent conflicts at work and how the first internal warnings concerning suspicious behaviour were dealt with. Each invidivual case was analysed in order to find out whether there are any indicators that could serve as a warning with regard to homicides of patients. The data were also analysed as to specific similarities concerning the victims, the offenders and the respective working environment. The main conclusion of this study is that homicides of patients in hospitals and nursing-homes become more unlikely if the fact that these things do happen is known and no longer tabooed.
authors.affiliation: St. Marienhospital Hamm, Klinik fur Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie Lehrstuhl fur Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universitat Witten/Herdecke.
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Beine
vernacular_title: Krankentotungen in Kliniken und Heimen.