A boy of only 13 years old, identified as Miguel Fernandes Brandão, was an only child and considered a true miracle by his parents, Genilva Fernandes and Fábio Luiz Brandão.It turns out that the two had struggled for years to conceive, and when they finally succeeded, the arrival of the baby was greatly celebrated by friends and family, after all, it was the first grandchild in the family on both sides.
However, in mid-November of last year, the love story turned tragic and generated much outrage, with Miguel passing away after nearly a month of hospitalization in a health unit at Hospital Brasília, in the Federal District.
The boy was a victim of a bacterial infection, and now his parents are denouncing the health unit for medical negligence and are also seeking answers regarding the loss they suffered.
The first symptoms and seeking medical attention.
On the night of October 11th, a Friday, Miguel began to show symptoms of allergic rhinitis, something that had become part of his routine. After taking medication, he managed to sleep, but woke up in the middle of the night with a fever.
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The next day, the fever persisted, and on Monday the 14th, Genilva also began to feel unwell. Believing they might have Covid-19, the parents decided to take Miguel to the hospital.
At Brasília Hospital, a doctor attributed the bad taste in the boy’s mouth to nasal discharge, but his parents suspected something more serious, as Miguel had already complained of a sore throat and difficulty swallowing saliva. Despite their concerns, however, he was discharged.
The worsening situation and the struggle for adequate care.
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On the night of the 14th, the fever returned stronger and more persistent. On Tuesday the 15th, Miguel woke up with vomiting, diarrhea, and extreme weakness. He could barely walk.
Upon returning to the hospital, his skin was yellowish and his extremities were purple. A doctor who was finishing her shift expressed concern and ordered quick tests, indicating that the case might require ICU admission.
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However, with the shift change, the medical approach changed. Despite changes in the tests, Miguel was transferred to an adult room because there were no available beds in the pediatric ward.
During the early morning hours, he continued to have a high fever without proper medical attention. His mother alerted the professionals several times, but was ignored, being described in the medical record as “anxious.”
The situation is worsening and the negligence continues.
On Wednesday the 16th, doctors continued to treat the case as a viral infection and insisted on palliative measures. Miguel remained feverish and had spots all over his body.
On Thursday the 17th, Miguel’s condition worsened significantly. He was experiencing throat and chest pain, his stomach was swollen, and his skin continued to develop spots. Even so, the doctors refused to order more detailed tests, stating that his mother should be patient.
The collapse and the race against time.
In the early hours of Friday the 18th, Miguel suffered a sudden deterioration. He was sweating excessively and showing signs of septic shock. The ICU team was finally called in. Miguel was intubated and further tests were performed, revealing a severe bacterial infection.
His body was already compromised. He developed kidney, liver, and lung failure. His skin became necrotic and had to be scraped off. Even so, the medical team was slow to adopt effective measures.
During a catheter change, his bladder was perforated, further worsening his condition. On November 9th, Miguel passed away. Now, his family is searching for answers after the tragedy.
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