A Brazilian doctor who was charged
with killing seven patients to free up beds at a hospital intensive care unit
may have been responsible for as many as 300 deaths, according to a Health
Ministry investigator.
with killing seven patients to free up beds at a hospital intensive care unit
may have been responsible for as many as 300 deaths, according to a Health
Ministry investigator.
The investor also said there may have been more cases.
Prosecutors said Dr Virginia Soares de Souza and her medical
team administered muscle relaxing drugs to patients, then reduced their oxygen
supply, causing them to die of asphyxia at the Evangelical Hospital in the
southern city of Curitiba.
team administered muscle relaxing drugs to patients, then reduced their oxygen
supply, causing them to die of asphyxia at the Evangelical Hospital in the
southern city of Curitiba.
De Souza, a 56-year-old widow, was arrested last month and
charged with seven counts of aggravated first degree murder.
charged with seven counts of aggravated first degree murder.
Three other doctors, three nurses and a physiotherapist who
worked under De Souza have also been charged with murder.
worked under De Souza have also been charged with murder.
Prosecutors for the state of Parana said wiretaps of De Souza’s
phone conversations revealed that her motive was to free up hospital beds for
other patients.
phone conversations revealed that her motive was to free up hospital beds for
other patients.
“I want to clear the intensive care unit. It’s making me itch,’’
she said in one recording released to Brazilian media. Unfortunately, our
mission is to be go betweens on the springboard to the next life,’’ she added
in the same phone call.
she said in one recording released to Brazilian media. Unfortunately, our
mission is to be go betweens on the springboard to the next life,’’ she added
in the same phone call.
De Souza’s lawyer, Elias Mattar Assad, said investigators had
misunderstood how an intensive care unit works and she would prove her
innocence.
misunderstood how an intensive care unit works and she would prove her
innocence.
More cases are expected to emerge as investigators comb through
1,700 medical records of patients who died in the last seven years at the
hospital, where De Souza headed the intensive care unit.
1,700 medical records of patients who died in the last seven years at the
hospital, where De Souza headed the intensive care unit.
“We already have more than 20 cases established, and there are
nearly 300 more that we are looking into,’’ the chief investigator assigned by
Brazil’s Health Ministry, Dr Mario Lobato, said on Globo TV’s Fantastico
programme on Sunday.
nearly 300 more that we are looking into,’’ the chief investigator assigned by
Brazil’s Health Ministry, Dr Mario Lobato, said on Globo TV’s Fantastico
programme on Sunday.
If prosecutors prove that De Souza killed 300 patients, this
could be one of the world’s worst serial killings, rivalling the notorious case
of Harold Shipman, the English doctor who was found to have killed at least 215
patients.
could be one of the world’s worst serial killings, rivalling the notorious case
of Harold Shipman, the English doctor who was found to have killed at least 215
patients.
Lobato said the deaths he reviewed occurred under similar
circumstances: a muscle relaxant such as Pancuronium (trademark Pavulon) was
administered, increasing the patients’ dependence on artificial respiration;
then the oxygen supply was reduced, causing death by asphyxia.
circumstances: a muscle relaxant such as Pancuronium (trademark Pavulon) was
administered, increasing the patients’ dependence on artificial respiration;
then the oxygen supply was reduced, causing death by asphyxia.
Some of the patients were conscious moments before they died, he
said.
said.
Prosecutors said De Souza felt “all powerful’’ running the
intensive care unit homicide, to the point where she “had the power to decree
the moment when a victim would die’’.
intensive care unit homicide, to the point where she “had the power to decree
the moment when a victim would die’’.
In some cases, De Souza was absent from the hospital and gave
instructions to end the life of a patient by telephone to members of her
medical team, according to documents detailing the charges.
instructions to end the life of a patient by telephone to members of her
medical team, according to documents detailing the charges.
Last week, a Curitiba judge ordered the release of De Souza and
her medical team.
her medical team.
Prosecutors sought on Monday to have her returned to custody
because she was the leader of the team and witnesses had reported being
intimidated.
because she was the leader of the team and witnesses had reported being
intimidated.
Parana state prosecutors asked police on Wednesday to
investigate whether more hospital employees, including former managers, were
involved in the case.
investigate whether more hospital employees, including former managers, were
involved in the case.
President Dilma Rousseff’s government will announce steps on
Thursday to reorganise the hospital, a spokesman for the Health Ministry said.
(Reuters/NAN)
Thursday to reorganise the hospital, a spokesman for the Health Ministry said.
(Reuters/NAN)
