Tragedy at Amadora-Sintra Hospital: Pregnant Woman Dies After Being Sent Home with High Blood Pressure

A 38-week pregnant woman tragically passed away in the early hours of Friday at Amadora-Sintra Hospital. The 36-year-old woman, of Guinean nationality, had attended a consultation at the hospital on Wednesday afternoon, where a hypertension episode was detected. Despite this, she was sent home. The death was first reported by CNN Portugal and confirmed by Observador through hospital sources. Both the Health Regulatory Entity (ERS) and the General Inspectorate of Health Activities (IGAS) will investigate the case.

Early Friday morning, the pregnant woman was admitted to Amadora-Sintra in cardiorespiratory arrest. She was declared dead at the hospital. The baby was born but is in critical condition in the neonatal intensive care unit at Amadora-Sintra Hospital.

In a statement, the Amadora-Sintra Local Health Unit (ULS) announced the opening of an internal inquiry into the case to clarify all circumstances related to the incident. The ERS also issued a statement indicating it has initiated an assessment process to evaluate the facts concerning the care provided to the pregnant woman in the emergency service of ULS Amadora/Sintra. This entity will collaborate with IGAS, which is already investigating the case. "These two bodies decided to cooperate to obtain all necessary clarifications," emphasized the ERS.

Regarding the timeline of events, ULS Amadora-Sintra informed that "on October 31, 2025, around 01:50, a user who was 38 weeks pregnant, originally from Guinea-Bissau, was admitted to the Obstetrics Emergency Service of this ULS, transported by an INEM team in a state of cardiorespiratory arrest."

Upon admission, the hospital stated that an emergency cesarean section was immediately performed, with the baby born at 01:56, currently under medical surveillance with a very guarded prognosis.

Hospital Scheduled Pregnant Woman's Admission for Next Week; Discharge Given After Tests

When the pregnant woman went to the hospital for a follow-up obstetrics consultation on Wednesday, and after a mild hypertension episode was detected, a new consultation was scheduled for 39 weeks, in preparation for delivery. On this matter, Amadora-Sintra Hospital clarified that "according to the clinical protocol, the user was then internally referred to the Obstetrics Emergency, where, after performing several complementary diagnostic tests, she was discharged with an indication for hospitalization at 39 weeks of gestation." The hospital assures that on Wednesday, the user "attended asymptomatic" for a routine consultation, "during which she was identified with mild hypertension."

According to information gathered by Observador, the Guinean woman had moved to Portugal in September with the purpose of giving birth at Amadora-Sintra Hospital. Her first contact with the hospital occurred at the end of September when she was first seen in the obstetrics consultation.

ULS Amadora/Sintra "deeply regrets the death of the user and extends heartfelt condolences to the family."

To Observador, INEM, which transported the pregnant woman to Amadora-Sintra Hospital, reported that at 00:28 on Friday, it received "a call at the INEM Urgent Patient Orientation Center (CODU), requesting help for a 36-year-old pregnant woman, with a 38-week gestation, who was experiencing shortness of breath."

Subsequently, the usual clinical triage was performed, and advice was given to the pregnant woman, with an Ambulance of Relief activated eight minutes after the call was answered. However, the situation worsened, as INEM states that the "ambulance team informed CODU at 00:54 that the victim was in cardiorespiratory arrest." Immediately, the Hospital Emergency and Resuscitation Medical Vehicle (VMER) of Amadora-Sintra was activated.

At 01:14, the VMER medical team "implemented the appropriate Advanced Life Support measures, and the user was then directed to HFF, with medical accompaniment from the VMER team, where she was admitted at 01:48." Death was declared at the hospital.

One of the issues not fully clarified regarding the care provided to the pregnant woman is why the 36-year-old woman did not receive an indication for hospitalization when hypertension was detected in her routine consultation on Wednesday, October 29. The hospital only refers to the detected hypertension as "mild" and that the pregnant woman was referred to the emergency department and underwent complementary diagnostic tests, without specifying which ones, receiving an indication for hospitalization only in the following week when the gestation reached 39 weeks.

Hospital Asserts Pregnant Woman Had No Indication for Hospitalization; Obstetrician Corroborates

In statements to journalists this morning, the director of the gynecology/obstetrics service at Amadora-Sintra dismissed the need for hospitalization of this pregnant woman. "The pregnant woman was not at 39 weeks. The indication in these contexts, when we don't find any significant condition, is to let nature take its course and only act if justified from a maternal-fetal risk perspective," said Diogo Bruno, adding that the Guinean woman did not present symptoms when evaluated in the routine consultation and had mild hypertension, around 140/90. The responsible party assures that pre-eclampsia (a condition combining high blood pressure levels with protein in the urine) was ruled out, so "the pregnant woman was sent home" as per the clinical protocol.

When asked if the pregnant woman underwent an electrocardiogram, Diogo Bruno clarified that this exam is only indicated "in cases of significant hypertension"—which was not the case. Nonetheless, the service director admitted that the "pregnant woman had an unclear history of hypertension."

To Observador, an obstetrician, who wished to remain anonymous, considered that, apparently, the clinical protocol followed by the hospital "was correct," since the pregnant woman did not present symptoms. "If it's just an isolated rise in blood pressure, then the attitude is correct," emphasized the specialist, adding that, given the reported situation, this case involved gestational hypertension and not pre-eclampsia, which did not justify immediate hospitalization.

Gestational hypertension is a condition preceding pre-eclampsia, where the pregnant woman does not present symptoms or have changes in tests, despite having blood pressure levels above normal. That was exactly the scenario described by Amadora-Sintra in this pregnant woman's case. "When there is no pre-eclampsia, which seems to have been the case, induction of labor is only indicated at 38, 39 weeks and not before," indicates the specialist.

"If it's mild hypertension, we treat it on an outpatient basis, the pregnant woman goes home with an indication to monitor the hypertension," explains the obstetrician, adding that, on the other hand, when pre-eclampsia is diagnosed and the pregnant woman presents symptoms (headaches, stomach pains, or visual changes) and/or changes in urine, the indication, in the vast majority of cases, is for hospitalization, as this condition can cause serious complications for the baby, such as placental abruption.

The death of the pregnant woman occurred hours before the hearing of the Minister of Health, Ana Paula Martins, in Parliament. This Friday, she will be heard by deputies in the context of the discussion of the State Budget for 2026.