A young doctor’s complaints about medical malpractice at Faro Hospital have led to disciplinary action against two doctors. The intern, Diana Carvalho Pereira, raised concerns about her former mentor and others during her first year at the hospital. These complaints were investigated by IGAS, the General Inspectorate of Health Activities, which found significant evidence of malpractice in six of the twelve cases she reported.

There has been controversy about the issue but some people appreciated Pereira for her courage, and the hospital is still standing behind its doctors.

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Medical Malpractice Case Background

The situation started when Diana Carvalho Pereira reported 11 incidents of negligence at Faro Hospital over a three-month period. As a new intern, she claimed that several patients were harmed because of poor medical practices.

Among the cases, three patients allegedly died, while two were placed in intermediate care due to complications. Other patients reportedly suffered severe injuries. Pereira described cases where one patient lost a kidney, another was accidentally castrated, and one patient needed a colostomy bag for life.

Pereira said:

One of the patients spent a week with a compress in the abdomen

In one particularly alarming case, Pereira stated that a patient had a compress left inside their abdomen for an entire week after surgery. Pereira filed formal complaints with several health authorities, including the General Medical Council and the Health Regulatory Authority.

However, this bold move had serious consequences for her. She was soon isolated by many of her colleagues, and the stress led her to take time off from her duties at the hospital.

IGAS Investigation And Disciplinary Actions

Pereira faced many challenges but her complaints were taken seriously. IGAS conducted an investigation into the twelve cases she highlighted. The inspectorate found solid signs of violation of leges artis in six of the cases. Leges artis refers to proper medical practice, meaning that these cases showed clear signs of malpractice.

The other six cases also showed evidence of improper medical care, but IGAS has not yet made final conclusions about them. As a result of these findings, IGAS opened disciplinary proceedings against two doctors at Faro Hospital. This decision was seen as a victory for Pereira, who felt validated by the outcome of the investigation.

The Hospital’s Response

Faro Hospital does not agree with IGAS’s conclusions. The Algarve ULS, which manages the hospital, conducted its own reviews of the situation. It requested two independent reports from medical experts within the Order of Physicians, a respected medical organization.

According to the hospital, both reports found no evidence of wrongdoing by the doctors involved in Pereira’s complaints. The hospital continues to support the doctors named in the complaints.

The hospital’s administration has stressed that the presumption of innocence must apply and that judgments should not be rushed.

The hospital board has announced that it will take legal action to protect the hospital’s reputation and ensure that the doctors names are cleared. The hospital has also stated that it will seek consequences for anyone who made false accusations, suggesting that Pereira’s complaints may have been overstated.

Public Reactions Towards The Case

Many people have expressed admiration for Pereira’s bravery in coming forward with her concerns, especially since she risked her own career. On social media, Pereira received messages of support, including from other doctors.

One local doctor wrote an article stating that he hoped never to need surgery in Faro Hospital due to the concerns raised by Pereira’s case.

But some believe that she may have overreacted or misinterpreted events. The hospital’s independent reports, which contradict IGAS’s findings, raise questions about how the situation has been handled. The differing conclusions between IGAS and the hospital’s investigations show that this is not a clear cut case.

There is also the possibility that more disciplinary action could follow. IGAS continues to review the remaining six cases. However, the hospital will continue to defend the reputation of its doctors and may pursue legal action to clear their names.