Howard Martin

Howard Martin (1934–2024) was a former British army doctor and GP who was prosecuted for the murder of three patients in 2005 but acquitted. In June 2010, after being struck off the medical register by the General Medical Council for hastening the deaths of 18 patients, he admitted in a newspaper interview bringing forward the deaths of two patients, including his terminally ill son. Martin died in County Durham in April 2024 after a short illness.

Career Martin qualified in 1957 and went on to work as a doctor in the British army for 18 years before he became a general practitioner in 1977 and worked in Newton Aycliffe, England. In 2004 the police opened an investigation into his activities after relatives voiced concern regarding the manner of patients' deaths.

Trial In 2005 Martin was prosecuted for the deaths of three patients: Harry Gittins, 74, Stanley Weldon, 74, and Frank Moss, 59, all from County Durham. Weldon had his life shortened by "two hours" according to the prosecution when Martin gave him a terminal dose of painkillers. Police put down the failure to convict to the fact that Martin chose to remain silent during the proceedings meaning cross-examination was impossible.

In 2007 an inquest was also held into the death of William Kerr, 84. His remains had been exhumed as part of the 2004 investigation into Martin. An open verdict was reached due to the advanced state of the body's decomposition. Panel chairman Brian Gomes da Costa also said that "Dr Martin's actions were indicative of an autocratic attitude, in that he seemed always to consider that he was right; and rejected, or did not seek, the views of others. He repeatedly broke the trust to which patients are entitled; this is unjustifiable."

Telegraph interviews In 2010 Martin gave a series of interviews to Daily Telegraph newspaper about his treatment of patients. In these interviews, he claimed there had been a prosecution "vendetta" against him

Beliefs Martin has claimed that he was not an advocate of euthanasia, instead being concerned with patients' dignity in death. He said in June 2010, "It’s not playing God to tend to people’s need with compassion and to let them have dignity."