GLADWIN (WWJ/AP) - A Michigan woman has been charged with attempted murder after telling police that she shut off her mother's life support system because she didn't want to see her in pain.
MLive.com reported the incident happened at around 8 p.m. Feb. 1 at Gladwin Pines Nursing & Rehabilitation in Gladwin, which is northwest of Midland.
According to a police report, 59-year-old Corrine Damm was "very distraught" when she turned off her mom's ventilator, and used scissors to cut tubing attached to it.
Staff acted quickly to turn the ventilator back on after about 60 seconds, however, and the 78-year-old woman survived
Damm then called police and allegedly confessed to what she'd done. "Corinne advised it wasn't like she was trying to plan a mercy killing, she just could not watch her mother in all the pain," police said, in the report.
Damm was arraigned on the charge and released on bond. There was no immediate comment from prosecutors or Damm's defense attorney.
