Police in Uppsala have launched a murder investigation after five staff members from the same department at Akademiska Children's Hospital became seriously ill with suspected poisoning. The latest case emerged on Monday when a fifth employee sought emergency care with similar symptoms to four colleagues.
All affected personnel required intensive care treatment after developing dangerously low potassium levels. Low potassium directly affects heart rhythm and can cause life-threatening complications. Medical staff noted the pattern appeared unnatural because multiple cases of critically low potassium rarely occur spontaneously within the same workplace.
Angelica Dipeders, representing one victim, stated her client received immediate medical attention that likely prevented a tragic outcome. The person remains in recovery but hasn't fully regained health. Prosecutors confirm the investigation continues but decline to comment on specific new cases.
Authorities await laboratory results to determine whether poison caused the illnesses or if another explanation exists. The police investigation focuses on the children's hospital unit where all five victims worked together.
This poisoning scare echoes previous hospital security incidents across Sweden. In 2022, a similar investigation occurred at Skåne University Hospital where several patients experienced unexplained medication irregularities. Sweden's healthcare system maintains strict medication protocols, making deliberate poisoning particularly alarming.
Hospital poisoning cases raise serious questions about workplace safety in Swedish healthcare facilities. International readers should understand that Swedish hospitals typically rank among Europe's safest, which makes this incident especially concerning. The concentration of cases within one department suggests either targeted attacks or environmental contamination.
Medical professionals express grave concern about the symptoms pattern. Potassium regulates heart function, and artificially induced deficiency can cause cardiac arrest. The deliberate nature appears likely given the specific symptoms and confined location.
What happens next depends on toxicology reports expected within days. If confirmed as poisoning, this would represent one of Sweden's most serious hospital security breaches in recent years. The investigation will examine access controls, medication storage, and staff interactions within the affected unit.
Uppsala healthcare administrators face mounting pressure to explain how five staff members could fall ill under similar circumstances. The hospital maintains full cooperation with police while continuing normal operations in other departments.