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

Prosecutors in Germany have charged a doctor with negligent bodily harm for declaring a 92-year-old woman dead, only for her to awaken at a funeral home (file picture) (Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

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