The state government will be forced to pay the patient a fine of R$40,000
The Federal District government was ordered to pay R$40,000 in compensation to a woman who remained for three years with a forgotten tablet on her abdomen after surgery in a public hospital. The decision, confirmed by the 2nd Civil Chamber of the Court of Justice of the DF, recognized the failure of medical care and classified the episode as negligent.
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The surgery took place in January 2020, at the Santa Maria Regional Hospital, during a cesarean section followed by an emergency hysterectomy. The patient had suffered a placental abruption which caused haemorrhage and led to the death of the baby. Despite the seriousness of the situation, the medical record already indicated, at the end of the operation, an inconsistency in the count of surgical pads.
After being discharged, the woman reported persistent abdominal pain, but only in 2023 a CT scan revealed the presence of a foreign body in the abdomen. A new surgery confirmed that the forgotten material was a surgical tablet, lodged in the pelvic region.
The first instance ruling, by the Eighth Public Finance Court, set the compensation at R$30,000 for moral damages and R$10,000 for aesthetic damages. The Federal District appealed, arguing that the medical team acted diligently and that the procedure was successful in preserving the patient’s life.
The judges, however, rejected the appeal and confirmed the sentence. For the rapporteur, Judge Hector Valverde Santanna, it is demonstrated that the surgeon did not take all the necessary measures to confirm the removal of the surgical material and did not adequately monitor the patient’s clinical condition.
“There was a discrepancy in the counting of tablets and the absence of steps to clarify the error. The omission constituted negligence and failure of the public health service,” the magistrate wrote in the decision.
Source: Terra

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.