After death in the LVR Clinic Cologne: Public prosecutor's office is investigating the death of a restrained 26-year-old

When Naomi K. talks about her sister, she talks about a person who wanted to travel and get to know other cultures. But above all she remembers her warmth: "Priscille was love personified. Only since she left have I realized how much love is missing at home."

Naomi K. last saw her sister on May 21st. Priscille K. wanted to go out with a friend that evening. But that same evening, the 26-year-old came to the LVR Clinic in Cologne-Merheim. The next morning she was dead. Her family is still trying to understand what happened between her arrival and her death.

According to her family, Priscille K. suffered from schizophrenia. On the evening of May 21st, she was in an acute psychiatric crisis and was taken to the specialist clinic for psychiatry and psychotherapy. When the clinic informed the family by telephone that she had been admitted, Naomi K. initially wasn't worried. Priscille K. had already been treated there before, and her sister had the impression that her stay had helped her.

However, Naomi K. did not know at the time that Priscille K. was said to have been restrained on a hospital bed that evening and treated with sedative medication. According to the family, the next morning, when nurses went to take blood, they noticed that Priscille K. was no longer alive. How the 26-year-old died and how long she had been dead at this point has not yet been conclusively clarified.

The Cologne public prosecutor's office has initiated a death investigation and is examining possible foul play by employees of the clinic. An autopsy has been carried out and investigations into the cause of death are ongoing. A chemical-toxicological report was also commissioned. In addition, patient files and monitoring protocols are evaluated. It is also about whether “any failures in monitoring or restraint were the cause of the patient's death,” says senior public prosecutor Ulrich Bremer. A decision will then be made as to whether there is initial suspicion of negligent homicide.

Strict legal requirements apply to restraints. If they are likely to last longer than around 30 minutes, judicial approval is generally required. Those affected must be closely monitored during the measure. The North Rhine-Westphalian Mental Health Act requires personal support and “continuous monitoring of vital functions”. The background is the health risks of restraint. Even when used correctly, complications can occur, including respiratory and circulatory disorders.

It is unclear whether these requirements were adhered to by Priscille K.. According to the family, there is no court order for her to be restrained for a longer period of time. Specific surveillance is also the subject of the investigation.

The LVR Clinic Cologne expresses “deep sympathy” for the relatives and declares that it will work with the state authorities to “consistently and completely investigate” the death. She is not commenting on the specific circumstances because of the ongoing proceedings and for reasons of privacy. In principle, the vital functions of restrained patients would be checked every 15 minutes. The clinic left it open whether this also happened to Priscille K..

The case received public attention primarily on social media after a younger sister of Priscille K. spoke about her death on TikTok. As a result, numerous users suspected that racism could have played a role in the treatment of the young black woman. Naomi K. contradicts this. For her, the central question is what happened in her sister's last hours.

Naomi K. would like possible errors to be clarified and those responsible to apologize. She wants her family to be taken seriously and that no one dies during restraint in the future.

A demonstration has been announced for September 26th at Cologne Central Station. Members of the Congolese community want to draw attention to Priscille K.'s death and demand clarification.