A 38-week pregnant woman passed away early Friday morning at Fernando Fonseca Hospital, also known as Amadora-Sintra, after being sent home on Wednesday with a scheduled appointment. Both the hospital and regulatory health authorities have initiated investigations into the incident.
The 36-year-old Guinean woman was admitted to the emergency department at 1:50 AM today, having been transported by a team from the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM), in a state of cardiorespiratory arrest, according to a statement from the USL Amadora-Sintra.
On Wednesday, she had visited the hospital for a routine consultation, where she was diagnosed with mild hypertension. Subsequently, she was internally referred to the obstetric emergency department, where after several diagnostic exams, she was discharged with instructions for admission at 39 weeks of gestation.
An internal inquiry has been launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The baby remains hospitalized with a “reserved prognosis.”
Diogo Bruno, director of the obstetric and gynecological emergency service at Amadora-Sintra Hospital, stated that the woman was in cardiorespiratory arrest upon arrival but was immediately assisted with all necessary procedures. He added that she had recently arrived in Portugal and the pregnancy follow-up “was not ideal.”
“The pregnant woman was in cardiorespiratory arrest when she entered the hospital. Thus, the action taken was advanced life support and extraction of the baby as quickly as possible,” he said.
Diogo Bruno confirmed that the woman had been seen for a routine consultation without symptoms, but “a very mild hypertension, around 140/90,” was detected in the obstetric consultation screening test.
“Due to this, being cautious, she was referred to obstetric emergency hospitalization. Several exams were performed that ruled out significant pregnancy complications requiring different interventions, and she was sent home, obviously, with instructions on alarm signs to return to the emergency service and seek medical care,” he noted.
The director of obstetric emergency stated that the baby is in neonatal intensive care, with a “reserved prognosis.”
The IGAS announced it has launched an inquiry to “evaluate the facts related to the care provided to a pregnant woman in the emergency service of the Local Health Unit of Amadora-Sintra who died hours after being sent home.”
Similarly, the ERS has opened an evaluation process with the same objective, with both entities collaborating to obtain all necessary clarifications in a complementary manner.
According to INEM, the Urgent Patients Guidance Center (CODU) received a call requesting help for a 36-year-old pregnant woman, at 38 weeks of gestation, who was experiencing shortness of breath, at 12:28 AM today.
After conducting a clinical triage and providing the necessary advice, the CODU dispatched an ambulance at 12:36 AM. By 12:54 AM, the woman was in cardiorespiratory arrest. However, the commander of the Agualva-Cacém Fire Department told RTP that the ambulance was dispatched at 12:46 AM.
A Medical Emergency and Resuscitation Vehicle (VMER) from Fernando Fonseca Hospital was then dispatched, implementing advanced life support measures at 1:14 AM.
The patient was subsequently transferred to HFF with medical support from the VMER team, arriving at 1:48 AM, according to the institute.
