A Tomah VA nurse, Beth Holtz, has been charged with one count of intentionally abusing a 75‑year‑old hospice patient after prosecutors allege she removed the patient’s prescribed continuous oxygen. Another nurse reconnected the tubing and the patient’s breathing and color improved; he died six days later, though authorities have not tied his death directly to the incident. The complaint quotes Holtz making a remark about paperwork and says she told investigators she wanted the patient to be at peace sooner, calling it a one‑time mistake. Wisconsin has requested an arrest warrant; if convicted, Holtz could face up to 15 years in prison.
VA Nurse Charged After Allegedly Removing Oxygen From 75‑Year‑Old Hospice Patient
Image by quinn.anya, CC BY-SA 2.0.
A registered nurse, Beth Holtz, who worked at the Tomah Veterans Affairs Medical Center, has been charged with one count of intentionally abusing a patient after prosecutors say she removed continuous oxygen from a 75‑year‑old hospice patient who had been prescribed it.
What Prosecutors Allege
According to the criminal complaint, a nursing aide noticed the patient without oxygen and asked about it. Holtz allegedly told the aide not to reconnect the tubing because she believed the patient was dying and thought it would be kinder to let him "find peace" rather than let him continue struggling.
Another nurse reportedly discovered the patient and reattached the oxygen. The complaint states the patient's color improved immediately and his breathing eased after oxygen was restored.
Outcome And Investigations
The patient survived the period without oxygen but died six days later. Authorities have not publicly linked his death directly to the interval when he was without oxygen; the complaint does not establish a confirmed cause‑and‑effect relationship.
Prosecutors say Holtz allegedly remarked that "death paperwork is easier than fall paperwork," a comment she later characterized as an attempt to be "goofy" and as frustration about end‑of‑shift paperwork.
The complaint further reports Holtz told investigators she should have known better than to remove the oxygen but also said people die "with or without oxygen attached." It says she agreed to a polygraph exam and admitted she wanted the patient to be at peace sooner, calling the action a one‑time mistake and the first time she had made such a decision.
Where Things Stand
Investigators believe Holtz may be working at another hospice facility in Wisconsin, likely in Waukesha County rather than Monroe County, where Tomah is located. The State of Wisconsin has requested that a warrant be issued for Holtz's arrest; there has been no public update on the issuance of a warrant or an arrest as of the filing.
Potential Penalty: If convicted of intentionally abusing a patient, Holtz faces up to 15 years in prison.
Note: These are allegations contained in a criminal complaint. Formal charges and court proceedings will determine legal responsibility.
Help us improve.
