Setsuko Suda

Setsuko Suda, 50, was found guilty of taking the patient's life at Kawasaki Kyodo Hospital and neglecting her duties. The court ruled the death from asphyxiation was caused by the muscle relaxant.

Prosecutors had demanded a five-year prison term.

Suda's defense had argued that she simply discontinued life-sustaining treatment for the terminally ill patient, which they said was not illegal, and that she was responding to a request from the patient's family -- a claim they deny.

The defense insisted that Suda administered the relaxant to help the patient breathe more easily because he was having difficulty breathing after she pulled out his tracheal tube.

The court rejected Suda's argument that the man's family had asked that the medical treatment be discontinued.

"The defendant did not sufficiently explain the patient's condition to his relatives and (she) was of the misunderstanding that the family had approved (stopping treatment), and (she thus) pulled out the tracheal tube that secured the airway," presiding Judge Kenji Hirose said.

Suda was "motivated by her wish to see her patient's life end in a natural way," the judge said.

The Japan Times Weekly: April 2, 2005
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