Berlin police investigate murder attempt in laboratory
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《英国医生杂志》
A murder attempt in the University Hospital Charité, Berlin, is proving a difficult case for the police.
The incident happened on 5 March 2004 when a 36 year old cardiologist, known only as Felix M, working at the Biomedical Research Centre of the Virchow Campus, took a drink from a water bottle. Although initially he did not notice any effect, some hours later he collapsed at home with signs of severe poisoning and was taken into intensive care. Five months later, he is still recovering from the attack.
The Charité management called in the police, who after three days identified Felix M's water bottle as the cause. It contained the laboratory chemical Rotiphorese, a polyacrylamide commonly used for protein separation, which causes severe neurological damage.
The Berlin police have said that the poison had not been added by mistake. A spokesman refused to say whether the assault was directed against Felix M specifically or the laboratory group as a whole. The police do not think, however, that the murderer comes from the cardiologist's own work-place.
The assault happened in a building that is used by about 300 scientists and technicians. At least 100 people have a key to the building, which also contains a lecture hall and a blood donor centre. Former guest scientists also still have access.
The Charité management had kept the case secret for several months but had told staff that eating and drinking was no longer allowed in the laboratories and that all drug safety regulations were to be followed strictly. Professor Detlev Ganten, head of the Charité hospital, said senior managers did not believe that the motive was fierce competition between scientists.
Speculation is running high in the German press. A doctor in Regensburg attacked a colleague with a knife and an injection needle a few years ago. In Heidelberg a doctor tried to poison a colleague with carcinogenic substances.(Annette Tuffs)
The incident happened on 5 March 2004 when a 36 year old cardiologist, known only as Felix M, working at the Biomedical Research Centre of the Virchow Campus, took a drink from a water bottle. Although initially he did not notice any effect, some hours later he collapsed at home with signs of severe poisoning and was taken into intensive care. Five months later, he is still recovering from the attack.
The Charité management called in the police, who after three days identified Felix M's water bottle as the cause. It contained the laboratory chemical Rotiphorese, a polyacrylamide commonly used for protein separation, which causes severe neurological damage.
The Berlin police have said that the poison had not been added by mistake. A spokesman refused to say whether the assault was directed against Felix M specifically or the laboratory group as a whole. The police do not think, however, that the murderer comes from the cardiologist's own work-place.
The assault happened in a building that is used by about 300 scientists and technicians. At least 100 people have a key to the building, which also contains a lecture hall and a blood donor centre. Former guest scientists also still have access.
The Charité management had kept the case secret for several months but had told staff that eating and drinking was no longer allowed in the laboratories and that all drug safety regulations were to be followed strictly. Professor Detlev Ganten, head of the Charité hospital, said senior managers did not believe that the motive was fierce competition between scientists.
Speculation is running high in the German press. A doctor in Regensburg attacked a colleague with a knife and an injection needle a few years ago. In Heidelberg a doctor tried to poison a colleague with carcinogenic substances.(Annette Tuffs)