A 72-year-old woman from Germany has been arrested for allegedly turning off a patient's ventilator not once, but twice because she didn't like the noise.
According to a statement from a German public prosecutor's office, the woman was staying at a hospital in Mannheim, southwest Germany, and sharing a room with a 79-year-old patient whose condition meant she was reliant on a mechanical oxygen supply via a ventilator - which assists those who are unable to breathe on their own.
It is unclear what medical condition the 79-year-old patient was suffering from that caused her to require a ventilator.
Police revealed that the 72-year-old had become so annoyed at the noise her roommate's oxygen device made that she switched it off just before 8:00PM on Tuesday (November 29). She was allegedly informed by hospital staff that her roommate depended on the oxygen and that it was a vital measure. However, at roughly 9:00PM the same evening the woman once again turned off the respiratory machine.
Following this, the 79-year-old patient required emergency resuscitation. Her condition has since stabilized, but she remains in intensive care, per The Guardian.
According to Allina Health, some patients will pass away within minutes of turning off life support, while others may breathe on their own for hours or even days. As the patient loses consciousness, they can experience what is often referred to as a death rattle - when mucous and saliva build up in the patient's throat. A rattling sound can occur when the patient loses the ability to clear their throat or swallow.
The 72-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of attempted manslaughter and appeared before the district court on Wednesday (November 30) and was subsequently taken to a correctional facility while she awaits trial. If she is found guilty, the woman could spend several years behind bars.
Investigations are still ongoing, despite police believing the woman's motive for turning off her roommate's device was simply that the noise was too annoying.
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