Autopsy took place on Monday
The body of a 93-year-old woman who died earlier this month in Tondela after waiting over an hour for ‘emergency response’ from INEM (the country’s institute for medical emergency), has been exhumed by order of Public Prosecutors.
The intention is for the autopsy to clarify whether the elderly woman died ‘naturally’, or because she was left so long waiting for medical attention.
According to tabloid Correio da Manhã, the autopsy took place on Monday.
This was one of the first deaths that marked the ‘INEM crisis’ sparked by industrial action that saw the ‘112’ emergency line essentially clog up for days. At some points, reports talked of “hundreds of calls waiting to be answered”.
In this particular case, Maria Célia suffered a heart attack in the morning of November 2. Her daughter and granddaughter “made various 112 calls from 9.30am” but it was only a full hour later that their emergency was answered by a ‘clinical triage over the telephone’. It then took even more time before an ambulance arrived at the scene.
Maria Célia’s granddaughter told CM at the time that she thought the way her grandmother’s emergency had been treated was “thoroughly revolting”.
Public prosecutors are investigating at least six other deaths related with long delays in INEM response. The country’s Ombudsman has already said if any of them are found to have been caused by the delays, the State owes full compensation to the affected families.
Earlier this week, prime minister Luís Montenegro stressed the government is ready to assume responsibility (if it is found) for these situations, but that there will be no resignations.
