Angel of mercy (criminology)

Some people with a pathological interest in the power of life and death can be attracted to medical or related professions.[5][6][7][8] Killers who occupy the role of a professional carer are sometimes referred to as "angels of death"[3] or angels of mercy. In this role they may kill their patients for money, for a sense of sadistic pleasure, for a belief that they are "easing" the patient's pain, or simply "because they can".[9] In some cases the killer claims the motive is euthanasia when it is not,[10] the difference is that a serial killer lacks a sense of compassion towards the patient which is expected in situations of euthanasia.[11] Most murders committed by nurses are performed by lethal injection.[12] The typical medical professional who murders kills two patients each month.[13] A 2011 study of characterizing 70 female serial killers found that 30% of the offenders were nurses.[14]

One such killer was nurse Jane Toppan, who admitted during her murder trial that she was sexually aroused by death. She would administer a drug mixture to patients she chose as her victims, lie in bed with them and hold them close to her body as they died. Another example is Harold Shipman, an English family doctor, who made it appear that his victims died of natural causes (disease). Between 1975 and 1998, he murdered at least 215 patients; he is suspected of having murdered 250 people.[15] Dr. John Bodkin Adams, meanwhile, though acquitted in 1957 of the murder of one patient, is believed to have killed around 163 patients in Eastbourne, England.[16]

An example of a malignant hero serial killer was Richard Angelo, who was called the "angel of death", or angel of mercy. Angelo devised a plan where he would inject the patient with drugs, then rush into the room and attempt to "save" the patient so that he could be a hero to the patient's family.[9] This motive of excitement from inducing a health crisis for the patient has recently been labeled as a professional version of Münchausen syndrome by proxy, a type of factitious disorder.[17] Richard Angelo confessed to killing 25 of his patients.[9]

A number of medical murderers were involved in fraud. For example, H. H. Holmes was often involved in insurance scams and confidence tricks.[18] Harold Shipman had a previous conviction for prescription fraud and forgery, for which he was fined £600.[19]

More known "Angels of Death" include:

• Beverley Allitt, English nurse who murdered four child patients
• Kristen Gilbert, American nurse and convicted serial killer
• Donald Harvey, American orderly and convicted serial killer
• Aino Nykopp-Koski, Finnish nurse convicted of five murders and five attempts of murder.
• Michael Swango, American physician who poisoned over 30 patients and coworkers
• Niels Högel, German nurse and convicted serial killer

There is concern that legalized euthanasia could enable serial killers, who could use euthanasia to mask murderous motives.[20] Concern over this possibility could fuel mistrust of palliative care practitioners among the general public,[21] and mistrust of government agencies to properly oversee nursing homes.[22]