The man was charged with neglecting his 57-year-old patient who had breathing problems and used a respirator regularly.
In May 2019, the home helper looked after the patient as two younger helpers helped the patient get to bed.
Here the patient showed clear signs of low oxygen level and he turned blue in the face. Initially, the home caregiver did not respond to the two caregivers’ requests to put the patient on a respirator.
According to the helpers, it took over half an hour before the man even joined them in the bedroom.
In fact, the two helpers had to call 112 before the home helper finally started putting the patient on a respirator. That he eventually did so is also the court’s reason to acquit the man of negligence.
The man was drunk during the course. In the afternoon he had drunk schnapps for a lunch event – he even says in court that he got 5-6 glasses.
Nearly five hours after the incident with the patient, which took place around 10.30pm, the police measured the home helper at a blood alcohol level of 1.99. According to netdoktor.dk, one will experience poisoning symptoms and lack of self-control in such an intoxication.
However, it is part of the story that the man was not criminally charged with being intoxicated.
The prosecution had demanded that the man be sentenced to 30 days in prison – conditional or unconditional. But the judges did not agree, and the man has therefore been acquitted.