In a heartbreaking turn of events, the family of 26-year-old pregnant woman Vânia Alves, who tragically lost her life along with her unborn baby in late August, has initiated legal proceedings against Guimarães Hospital. They allege negligence in the hospital’s care of Vânia, whose high-risk pregnancy displayed concerning signs that went unaddressed.
Vânia’s untimely demise has raised disturbing questions about the hospital’s handling of her medical condition, with her family demanding answers. Correio da Manhã reported on the family’s allegations, highlighting the alleged oversight of pre-eclampsia symptoms that ultimately led to this devastating outcome.
Cristina Sousa, the family’s legal representative, emphasized the gravity of the situation, suggesting that the hospital’s actions were influenced by financial considerations rather than patient well-being. Tonight at 9:30 pm, CMTV will air an exposé titled “Dreams Betrayed” to shed further light on this tragic incident.
The sequence of events leading to Vânia Alves’ death is deeply troubling. On August 28, when Vânia first presented herself at the hospital, complaining of shortness of breath, dizziness, and stomach pains, she was already in her 35th week of pregnancy—an ideal time for a Cesarean section delivery, which boasts a high success rate. Shockingly, she was sent home, only to collapse a few hours later and tragically pass away in the ambulance.
António Alves, Vânia’s father, voiced his anguish, stating, “This was a grave act of negligence on the part of the hospital. Vânia should have been admitted, and a Cesarean could have been performed. Today, perhaps both of them would still be with us.”
Instead, on August 31, the family had to bury both mother and unborn child, who was still inside her womb. This heart-wrenching experience left them with countless unanswered questions.
One particularly perplexing issue, as reported by CM, is that the death of Santiago, the name Vânia and her partner Tiago had chosen for their son, was documented as occurring two days after the death of his mother—an impossibility. Santiago would have succumbed shortly after his mother, deprived of oxygen that would have been carried in their shared bloodstream.
Today’s report in CM also mentions a previous visit Vânia made to Guimarães Hospital four days before August 28, during which she complained of dizziness and stomach pains—symptoms indicative of pre-eclampsia, a condition characterized by high blood pressure and detectable proteins in the urine.
On August 24, the hospital reportedly diagnosed her with a urinary tract infection, but, according to Vânia’s father, she was sent home without receiving any medication.
Guimarães Hospital, also known as Hospital Senhora da Oliveira, has consistently maintained that they followed all clinical protocols in this tragic case. However, even before the family filed their lawsuit, investigations had been initiated by the Public Prosecutor, the health regulator ERS, and IGAS, the health activities inspectorate, into Vânia Alves’ death.
This devastating incident has left a void in the lives of the family, who had eagerly anticipated the arrival of a long-awaited newborn. António Alves expressed his grief, saying, “My daughter was overjoyed at becoming a mother. It was her dream. This is a pain that will never fade. It will never heal. My wife is in a state of depression. This is a tremendous tragedy.”
Sara, Vânia’s sister, added, “They didn’t allow Vânia to meet her son. They didn’t allow us, his family, to meet him. We were all deceived. We are demanding justice for Vânia and for Santiago.”
