A man suffering from chronic liver disease died two days after waiting seven hours to be seen by a doctor at the Barreiro hospital emergency room and being mistakenly discharged “for abandonment.”
The incident occurred in February 2024 and was reported by the patient’s daughter-in-law, as stated by the Health Regulatory Entity (ERS) in the document compiling deliberations for the second quarter of 2025, released on Thursday, September 25.
According to the woman, her father-in-law arrived at the hospital’s emergency room at 11:27 a.m. She attempted to visit him at 6 p.m. the same day, only to be informed that he had been “discharged.”
Suspicious because the family had not been informed of his discharge, she requested the staff to verify the situation and received the same response.
“Not satisfied, the complainant entered the emergency service to look for the patient, finding him ‘lying on a stretcher in a truly deplorable state,'” the ERS quotes.
She then approached the attending doctor, who reportedly told her he had “seen” the man in a wheelchair in the corridor and had called his name three times. When there was no response, the doctor discharged him “for abandonment.”
The patient, who was subsequently admitted, died two days after this incident.
“Medical approach was correct” but not the discharge for abandonment
In response to the complaint, Barreiro hospital assures that “the medical approach was correct, with the patient being admitted after clinical evaluation, therapeutic intervention, and additional diagnostic and therapeutic means.” However, it acknowledges “this was an inappropriate situation, as the patient’s absence was not confirmed, and he was mistakenly discharged for abandonment.”
Upon realizing the error, the hospital explains, “the clinical record was reopened, prompting immediate clinical observation.”
“The episode you describe is unacceptable, and we recognize there was a communication failure among the various health professionals,” states the health unit.
The ERS concluded that “the conduct of the ULSAR [Local Health Unit of Arco Ribeirinho, commonly known as Barreiro hospital] did not adequately protect the patient’s rights and legitimate interests.”
Thus, “it is imperative to ensure that the healthcare procedures employed by ULSAR safeguard the right to integrated, continuous, and timely healthcare,” the ERS notes.
According to CNN Portugal, the General Inspectorate of Health Activities (IGAS) is already investigating the case.
To Notícias ao Minuto, the ULSAR Board of Directors stated that it is “false” that the patient died neglected on a stretcher, as reported by some media outlets. However, they did not provide further clarification on the matter due to “professional secrecy and confidentiality of clinical data.”
“It is not appropriate to disclose more information, but we are available to cooperate with the General Inspectorate of Health Activities (IGAS), as we did with the Health Regulatory Entity (ERS),” they concluded.
