In a shocking incident, a woman was arrested in Germany after allegedly switching off her hospital roommate’s ventilator because she was annoyed by the sound.
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Woman turns off roommate’s ventilator because its sound annoyed her
The incident took place in the south-western city of Mannheim on Tuesday, November 29. The 72-year-old woman reportedly switched off the ventilator twice and was detained on suspicion of attempted manslaughter.
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According to prosecutors and police, the woman allegedly switched off a woman’s ventilator, and despite being told that the machine is crucial for the patient, she turned it off again later in the day.
The older patient had to be revived and, while her life is not in danger, still requires intensive care, the authorities said.
72-year-old woman was arrested after the incident
A joint press release published by the Mannheim public prosecutor’s office and Mannheim police alleged the woman switched off the ventilator before 8 p.m. local time after she “felt disturbed by the noise coming from the oxygen device.”
Representational Image/Reuters
“Although the suspect was informed by the hospital staff that the oxygen supply was a vital measure, she is said to have switched off the device again around 9 pm,” the statement read.
The suspect was brought before a judge on Wednesday and taken to jail. A thorough investigation is ongoing into the matter.
Ventilation is a life-saving technology that’s used to support people with severe respiratory conditions that impact the lungs, including pneumonia.
Representational Image/Reuters
For patients unable to breathe on their own, mechanical ventilation can provide life-sustaining oxygen. A breathing tube is attached to the ventilator, and medical staff can adjust the rate at which it pushes air and oxygen into the lungs and adjust the oxygen mix.
A ventilator unit controls the pressure, humidity, volume, and temperature of the air based on controls placed by a doctor or respiratory therapist.This allows healthcare professionals to control a person’s breathing and oxygen levels.
When a person seems ready to come off a mechanical ventilator, doctors first have to ensure the person can breathe independently. They do this via weaning, which involves gradually removing ventilator support.
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