The Amadora/Sintra Local Health Unit expressed grief on Saturday over the death of a baby involved in a controversial case, following the mother’s death on Friday.
“The Amadora/Sintra Local Health Unit expresses its sorrow over the death, this morning, of the baby born after an emergency cesarean at Hospital Professor Doutor Fernando Fonseca, after her mother entered cardiac arrest at this health unit on October 31, and sends heartfelt condolences to the family,” a statement issued to Notícias ao Minuto reads.
The same statement reports that, “since birth, the baby was in a deep coma, with no neurological reflex, and this morning she developed progressive hypotension and bradycardia, leading to her death.”
The situation has prompted renewed calls for the resignation of Health Minister Ana Paula Martins. Events unfolded early Friday when a woman, 38 weeks pregnant, arrived at the Fernando da Fonseca Hospital in Amadora.
On Wednesday, the woman had visited the hospital for a routine check-up, during which slight hypertension was identified.
In its communication, the Health Unit stated the woman was internally referred to the Obstetrics Emergency Unit, where, after numerous diagnostic tests, she was discharged with a recommendation for hospitalization at 39 weeks gestation.
Regarding Friday, Diogo Bruno, director of the obstetrics and gynecology emergency service at Amadora-Sintra Hospital, clarified, “The pregnant woman was in cardiac arrest upon arrival at the hospital. Therefore, the action taken was advanced life support and extraction of the baby as quickly as possible, which was extremely rapid.”
After the cesarean, the baby was delivered alive but in critical condition. This afternoon, the Health Minister extended condolences to the family for the deaths of the 36-year-old Guinean mother and the newborn, “sharing the grief over this tragedy.”
