DF Health Department calls patient who died three months ago for examination

The Health Department of the Federal District called for an examination of a patient who died three months ago due to breast cancer. Rafaela Carolina Rodrigues, aged 42, was waiting for surgery in the public health network, but could not resist and passed away on July 23rd.

However, this Saturday (24), her husband received a message via a messaging app, asking for confirmation of a scintigraphy test, a necessary phase for the pre-operative period.

"I don't even know how to classify this message I received. Unfortunately, there's no way Rafaela could be there and, in her place, there won't be anyone," said Antônio Geraldo.

In a statement, the Department of Health said that Rafaela was monitored by the public network and that it offered specialized care and highly complex exams, in addition to being recommended palliative care.

The department also indicated that the patient had missed exams and said that the Ministry of Health's mortality information system is not integrated with the DF Regulation Center and that, therefore, the death was not automatically registered in the system.

Diagnosis

The disease was diagnosed in January 2024. At the time, the medical report showed that it was an aggressive, fast-growing tumor, and that the patient needed surgery to remove her breasts as soon as possible, at risk of disease progression.

Rafaela gave an interview to DF2 in January last year, when she had already been on the surgery waiting list for 54 days.

"I'm at risk of death, yes, because the cancer doesn't wait. It's alive, it's growing, it can spread throughout the body. I can no longer undergo chemotherapy treatment. Unfortunately, what I need is surgery," he said at the time.

According to the Social Health Map, from the Public Ministry of the Federal District, it shows that 4118 people are waiting to take the scintigraphy exam in the capital. The average waiting time is 224 days, that is, around 7 and a half months.

What the Department of Health says

"The Health Department of the Federal District informs that patient R.C.R. was monitored by the public health network, with 20 confirmed attendances and eight absences since the beginning of treatment. Specialized care, highly complex exams and therapeutic monitoring were carried out in its own and partner units. There were three exams pending, and the patient was being monitored with indication of palliative care.

The last absence occurred on July 8, 2026, for MRI. On July 15, the patient attended for CT scans. The scintigraphy was scheduled for October 27, 2026, as part of continued follow-up.

SISREG and the Ministry of Health's Mortality Information System (SIM) are not integrated to automatically update appointments after death registration. Therefore, the death did not automatically update the patient's status in the system, and the exam notification was issued."