Woman allegedly turned off a roommate’s ventilator at the hospital twice because of the noise

BERLIN (AP) — A 72-year-old woman has been arrested after allegedly turning off a hospital roommate’s ventilator — twice — because she was annoyed by the noise it was making, authorities in Germany said on Thursday.

The woman was detained on suspicion of attempted manslaughter after the incident at a hospital in the southwestern city of Mannheim on Tuesday evening.

Police and prosecutors said in a statement that the suspect turned off the ventilator of a 79-year-old woman and turned it off again later that evening, despite being told by staff that it was vital to the patient.

The elderly patient required resuscitation and, although her life is not in danger, still requires intensive care, authorities said.

The suspect was produced before a judge on Wednesday and taken to jail.