German woman switches off oxygen equipment, arrested

A hospital patient has been arrested after she switched off oxygen equipment on which a patient depended because it was too noisy, according to German authorities.

The public prosecutor's office in the southwest German city of Mannheim obtained a warrant for the 72-year-old woman's arrest and was brought before the magistrate and investigating judge of Mannheim Local Court on Wednesday.

She was later admitted to a correctional facility, the police headquarters and the public prosecutor's office in Mannheim.

The woman allegedly turned off the main switch of the oxygen equipment on Tuesday after feeling disturbed by the noise emanating from it, according to the statement.

Although she was informed by hospital staff that the oxygen supply was a vital measure, she turned off the device at around 9: 00 pm.

The 79-year-old woman had to be resuscitated and is still receiving intensive medical care.

Oxygen equipment is used to ensure sufficient oxygen reaches a patient's cells and can take different forms, including a nasal cannula, face mask or tracheotomy tube, according to the Cleveland Clinic website.