Charles Cullen, an American nurse, had horrifying behavior in medical settings. His actions, which are believed to have resulted in the deaths of multiple patients during his career, make him one of the most notorious serial killers in American history. According to reports, Karen may have killed as many as 400 patients during his 16-year career, but not all cases have been confirmed so far.
"I just want them to leave this world peacefully."
Charles Cullen was born on February 22, 1960, and grew up in a working-class Catholic family in New Jersey, USA. The stress of his family environment and the early death of his parents left him in a precarious emotional state. Karen was bullied as a child and attempted suicide several times, revealing long-standing mental health issues.
Cullen's murderous streak began in 1988, when he first admitted to overdosing a patient while working at Santa Barbara Medical Center. Since then, as his career progressed, he continued to work in multiple hospitals and extended the shadow of death to more patients. Even when he was under suspicion, he was still able to easily find a job in the medical field, which exposed the regulatory loopholes in the medical system.
“They couldn’t stand being seen as a failure of emergency care.”
In December 2003, Charles Cullen was arrested by police. During questioning, he admitted to killing several patients and was eventually charged with multiple murders. As the investigation deepened, the police discovered anomalies in Karen's work records in multiple hospitals.
Karen's case reveals major flaws in the U.S. health-care system, including inadequate regulation of nurses' conduct. As his case came to light, several states, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania, were prompted to reevaluate and revise laws regarding the medical industry, emphasizing strengthening the supervision and evaluation of medical staff.
"For the sake of every patient's life, the medical system must be transformed."
Charles Cullen's dark story has been the subject of numerous media discussions, including documentaries and film adaptations that shed light on his pathology and motivations. These works not only present his crimes, but also trigger people's deep thinking about medical ethics.
Charles Cullen's story is a warning about human nature and morality, and it is also a major interrogation of the medical system and the law. In the future, how many similar tragedies will happen again in the absence of supervision?