Health Center Refuses Patient Showing Stroke Symptoms
A health center in the municipality of Ovar refused to assist a patient displaying symptoms of a stroke, advising the individual to make their own way to the nearest hospital. The incident occurred in October 2023 when a man sought help at the USF Alpha in Válega, presenting with "marked facial asymmetry and intense left-sided headache".
Fearing it could be a stroke (AVC), the patient requested to be seen by his family doctor at the health center's reception. However, the secretary informed him that he could not be seen "on the doctor's instruction" and recommended that the user "go to the nearest hospital by his own means".
Ultimately, the patient was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy, a condition that causes temporary facial paralysis but is not life-threatening like a stroke. This case raises serious concerns about patient safety and emergency response protocols in Portuguese healthcare facilities.
Comments
Join Our Community
Sign up to share your thoughts, engage with others, and become part of our growing community.
No comments yet
Be the first to share your thoughts and start the conversation!