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 âemergency responseâ from INEM (the countryâs 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 ânaturallyâ, or because she was left so long waiting for medical attention.
According to tabloid Correio da ManhĂŁ, the autopsy took place on Monday.
This was one of the first deaths that marked the âINEM crisisâ sparked by industrial action that saw the â112â emergency line essentially clog up for days. At some points, reports talked of âhundreds of calls waiting to be answeredâ.
In this particular case, Maria CĂ©lia suffered a heart attack in the morning of November 2. Her daughter and granddaughter âmade various 112 calls from 9.30amâ but it was only a full hour later that their emergency was answered by a âclinical triage over the telephoneâ. It then took even more time before an ambulance arrived at the scene.
Maria CĂ©liaâs granddaughter told CM at the time that she thought the way her grandmotherâs emergency had been treated was âthoroughly revoltingâ.
Public prosecutors are investigating at least six other deaths related with long delays in INEM response. The countryâs 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 LuĂs Montenegro stressed the government is ready to assume responsibility (if it is found) for these situations, but that there will be no resignations.
