Woman declared dead by doctors in Germany wakes up in funeral home
Doctor charged with negligent bodily harm after allegedly pronouncing seriously-ill woman dead
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Prosecutors in Germany have charged a doctor with negligent bodily harm for declaring a 92-year-old woman dead – only for her to wake up in a refrigerated room at a funeral home.
Essen prosecutor Birgit Juergens said the 53-year-old, whose name was not released in line with privacy regulations, could face anything from a fine to a prison sentence if convicted.
The doctor is alleged to have pronounced the seriously ill woman dead in March after a caregiver found her without a pulse and not breathing at a retirement home.
That evening, a worker at the funeral home where she had been taken heard a scream from the refrigeration room and discovered the woman alive.
The woman died two days later in hospital from heart disease unrelated to the incident.
PA