The family of a 15-year-old teenager who died in São Carlos (SP) raises doubts about the care received at the Vila Prado Emergency Care Unit (UPA). Caio Vinicius de Oliveira died just one day after being released from the unit without undergoing tests, according to his mother’s report.
Beatris Regina de Lima, the young man’s mother, claims that the health professional did not carry out an adequate physical examination. “The doctor just looked at him and medicated, without touching my son,” declared Beatris, expressing her dissatisfaction with the initial approach.
Despite the Civil Police recording the incident classifying the death as a natural death, family members vehemently contest the medical protocol adopted and the assistance offered by the Mobile Emergency Care Service (Samu).
According to the mother’s report, the teenager felt unwell and passed out at his home in the early hours of Thursday (25). Caio received care from Samu and a doctor from the Advanced Support Unit (USA), but unfortunately he did not survive the condition.
The City of São Carlos, in a note, announced that the young man was admitted to the Vila Prado UPA at 5:17 am on Wednesday, being released two hours later. The medical team’s justification was that the patient did not show serious signs at the time of evaluation, a point that often generates debate about the complexity of initial screening in emergency care units, where common symptoms can sometimes mask higher risk conditions.
Questions about the initial diagnosis of the virus in the UPA
The mother reported that Caio was in good health and carried out his daily activities normally on Tuesday (23). However, in the early hours of Wednesday (24), the young man began to suffer from intense vomiting and severe pain in the abdominal region, which led to his going to the UPA by car.
“I reported that he was vomiting non-stop and felt a lot of pain in his stomach, he was twitching there”, narrated Beatris. She added that, when trying to take her son home, she was prescribed new medication. One of the doctors suggested that the symptoms were those of a common virus.
The mother reiterated that the doctor only observed her son and that, despite the continued worrying symptoms, no laboratory evaluation was requested. At the UPA, Caio was attended to by two professionals who, according to Beatris, did not carry out a thorough examination of the teenager.
Returning home after medication administration
Caio received intravenous medications, including dipyrone, but the pain persisted. The mother returned to the office to report no improvement, resulting in the administration of a new combination of medications, such as decadron and dramamine.
After the second round of medication, Caio indicated a slight reduction in pain and, as a result, he was allowed to return home. During the rest of the day, according to the mother, the teenager remained weak, showing weakness and difficulty standing. His diet consisted of a light meal and isotonic liquids for rehydration.
However, in the early hours of Thursday, Caio’s condition worsened drastically. Beatris reported that her son called her, complaining of chest pain and dizziness. The young man then lost consciousness while on the couch in the family room.
“He fell asleep around 9pm, but around 3am he called me, asking me to go to the sofa. Shortly afterwards, he shouted for me, and I ran. He reported pain in his chest and fell sideways on the sofa, with his mouth already turning white”, Beatris described the final moments.
Disputes about Samu’s service
Faced with worsening, the family called Samu. According to the mother, the first ambulance arrived quickly, but there was a supposed delay in starting the assistance, as the team nurse remained inside the vehicle, without starting assistance immediately.
Beatris reported that the nurse only entered the house after a few minutes, at which point Caio was already unconscious. Resuscitation maneuvers were then carried out. A second ambulance, with a doctor on board, soon arrived to provide support.
The teenager’s mother expresses her conviction that there were significant failures both in the UPA’s assistance and in Samu’s initial response. She formalized a police report and claims to have security camera records that document the arrival of the ambulance and moments of the team’s approach.
Caio’s body was removed to the Death Verification Service (SVO), located in Américo Brasiliense, where the investigation will be carried out to determine the exact cause of death.
The young man’s wake is scheduled for this Friday (26), between 10am and 2pm, at the Velório Nossa Senhora do Carmo. Subsequently, the burial will take place at the Santo Antônio Cemetery, also in São Carlos.
Official position of the municipal administration
According to the city hall, teenager Caio was seen by a doctor at 5:33 am at the UPA, reporting epigastric pain, in the upper part of the abdomen, and episodes of vomiting. The municipal administration reports that the patient did not exhibit fever, lack of appetite or other warning indicators, as assessed by the health team.
The city hall’s official note details that Caio received a combination of medications, including buscopan, cimetidine, dipyrone, decadron and dramin. After a period of observation, the young man was clinically reassessed at 7:18 am. Given the improvement shown, medical discharge was granted.
Regarding the assistance carried out by Samu, the City of São Carlos announced that the call was registered at 3:20 am on Thursday (25). The initial request reported a patient who presented nausea, vomiting and a general malaise.
According to information from the municipal administration, the first team to be deployed was a Basic Support Unit (USB), which was the closest ambulance available. The incident occurred at 3:25 am, and the vehicle arrived at the scene at 3:31 am.
The city hall added that, subsequently, an Advanced Support Unit (USA), popularly known as the Mobile ICU, was sent. The team was called at 3:39 am and arrived at the scene at 3:48 am. Records indicate that the Basic Support Unit (USB) ended service and left the residence at 4:24 am.
The São Carlos administration, however, did not provide details about the specific procedures carried out by the Samu teams during the service.