Vilmar Pereira da Silva was 49 years old and homeless; The team says he didn't ask for assistance. Videos show patient revolt; cause of death has not yet been released.
By g1 and TV Globo — Brasília
In the post, the secretary says that the information is "preliminary" and that he asked for the immediate opening of an investigation to investigate the case. The UPA is located in Recanto das Emas and is managed by the Institute for Strategic Health Management (Iges-DF), an entity created by the government itself.
Vilmar Pereira da Silva arrived at the scene in a wheelchair and, according to witnesses, remained in the waiting room for at least four hours.
His lack of movement drew attention, and his death was confirmed by nurse Mayela Lima – who was not part of the UPA team, and was there seeking care for her daughter.
"I felt him on the neck and saw that he no longer had a pulse. Soon I got alarmed, I said 'oh, he's dead'. A professional [from the UPA] came and said he wasn't dead, he went in and stayed there", he reported.
The governor of DF, Celina Leão (PP), used a social network this Sunday to show solidarity with Vilmar's family.
“I have already ordered the Department of Health and Iges to rigorously investigate the circumstances of his death in the hospital unit and hold those who did not provide adequate care accountable,” wrote Celina.
What does the government say?
In a statement on Saturday, the Institute for Strategic Health Management (Iges-DF) stated that "it is investigating the circumstances of the death".
According to the entity, the man did not have an open service record at the UPA and had not undergone screening or evaluation. After the death was confirmed, the man's daughter was notified and received care from the UPA social service team.
In a note released on Sunday (21), the Department of Health says that "any indication of omission or lack of care will not be admitted or accepted to any citizen who seeks assistance in our health network."
"Although [the patient] was not registered as a patient of the unit at the time of the incident, it is essential to clarify all the facts and verify whether the protocols adopted were adequate", continues the folder.
Witnesses revolted
Images sent to TV Globo show the man sitting in a wheelchair at the UPA reception, with his arms and head drooping. In the videos, there are many mothers and children looking for care.
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Patient dies waiting for treatment at the Recanto das Emas UPA, in DF — Photo: Personal archive/Reproduction
One of the videos at the scene shows that witnesses also try to prevent UPA employees from handling the body until the police arrive.
Another image shows the moment when a team from the DF Military Police isolates the area – still with the body in the wheelchair (see above).
The body was taken to the Medical-Legal Institute for victim recognition. At the scene, military police heard that the man was homeless.
What does the UPA management say?
Read the full note released by Iges-DF below:
"The Institute of Strategic Health Management of the Federal District (IgesDF) informs that it is investigating the circumstances of the death of a man that occurred this Saturday (20), at the reception of UPA Recanto das Emas.
The victim, identified as a homeless person, did not have an open service record at the unit on the date of the incident; had not undergone risk classification or care assessment. At around 2:30 pm, the assistance team was called by people who were there to check their health status.
Health professionals carried out an immediate assessment and found the absence of vital signs. The Military Police of the Federal District (PMDF) and the Civil Police of the Federal District (PCDF) were then called in to carry out legal procedures and investigate the facts.
The man's daughter was notified and received support and guidance from the unit's Social Service team, in accordance with established protocols.
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