The family of a 36-year-old woman and her newborn who died at Hospital Fernando da Fonseca, known as Amadora-Sintra, has refuted statements by Health Minister Ana Paula Martins. The minister stated in Parliament that the pregnant woman “was not accompanied until the day she entered” the hospital.
Speaking to SIC Notícias, the family disclosed that Umo Cani was receiving primary healthcare before being referred to Amadora-Sintra. She had attended four consultations and undergone several examinations, including ultrasounds.
The television channel accessed official documents confirming that the patient had consultations and examinations at the Agualva-Cacém Health Center, contradicting initial claims of no prior medical attention.
Paloma Mendes, a friend of the victim, further revealed to SIC Notícias that the woman had been living in Portugal for a year and had visited Guinea-Bissau to see her husband. Upon returning to Portugal pregnant, she was already in the second trimester.
Both family and friends deemed the minister’s comments as “unfortunate,” raising questions about communication between services and the information provided by health authorities. Here is the case chronology.
October 31
According to CNN Portugal, a 36-year-old pregnant woman died in the early hours of Friday, October 31, at Hospital Fernando da Fonseca after being sent home despite a hypertension diagnosis. An emergency cesarean was performed, and the baby was delivered alive but in critical condition.
The hospital stated in a communication that all protocols were followed but initiated an internal inquiry into the incident.
Shortly thereafter, the head of the Gynecology and Obstetrics Service at Amadora-Sintra told reporters that Umo Cani had only recently arrived in Portugal and that her prenatal care was “not ideal.” The hypertension episode was noted as “very mild,” leading to her discharge.
The Health Activity Inspection General (IGAS) announced an inquiry, and the Health Regulation Authority initiated an evaluation process for the same purpose.
There were also emerging concerns about potential delays in the pregnant woman’s rescue. The emergency call was made at 00:28, and she arrived at the hospital at 01:48.
In Parliament, faced with the controversy, Health Minister Ana Paula Martins reiterated her position and made comments that fueled further debate.
“Mostly, these are pregnant women who were never followed during pregnancy, lack a family doctor, are new to Portugal with advanced pregnancies, and some neither speak Portuguese nor were prepared to seek help. Sometimes, they don’t even have a mobile phone,” Ana Paula Martins described regarding the increase in out-of-hospital births.
Later that day, RTP reported that the Public Prosecutor’s Office had also opened an inquiry into the case.
November 1
The day after the pregnant woman’s death, reactions began to surface, particularly from political leaders, with PS and Chega calling for accountability.
On All Saints’ Day, Amadora-Sintra announced that the baby also did not survive. The girl had been in a “deep coma” since birth, “without any neurological reflex,” and by the morning of November 1, she had developed progressive hypotension and bradycardia, leading to her death.
On that day, in a statement sent to Lusa, the Health Minister expressed condolences to the family, “sharing the pain of this tragedy.”
November 2
New information emerged. Correio da Manhã reported the name of the deceased pregnant woman and noted that contrary to statements by the Health Minister and the hospital, Umo Cani had been accompanied by the National Health Service since July, which Amadora-Sintra only confirmed 48 hours after her death.
The administration of the Amadora-Sintra Hospital ultimately acknowledged the mistake. According to the hospital’s statement, the woman had two prenatal surveillance consultations, on July 14 and August 14, and obstetric consultations at Hospital Fernando Fonseca on September 17 and October 29, just two days before her death.
The hospital administration highlighted that this information regarding her accompaniment since July was conveyed to Health Minister Ana Paula Martins, and that her statements in Parliament were based on information and the issued statement by ULSASI concerning the specific incident preceding the fatal outcome on October 31 at Hospital Fernando Fonseca.
Simultaneously, in statements to SIC and CMTV, the woman’s family and friends not only affirmed that her pregnancy was being followed at the health unit and that Umo Cani had legally lived in Portugal for a year, but also presented evidence supporting their claims.
Conclusions from ongoing investigations and autopsy results are now awaited.
