Hospital ‘found no irregularities’ in operations carried out by a doctor suspected of causing injuries to patients in RS | Rio Grande do Sul

O Ernesto Dornelles Hospitalin Porto Alegre, said that no “irregularities or abnormalities in the area of ​​plastic surgery” were found within an investigation opened in January this year to investigate the conduct of a doctor suspected of causing injuries to patients during operations.

Leandro Fuchsa plastic surgeon who worked there, responds to 75 police inquiries for serious bodily injuries to women and men, in addition to more than 20 legal cases.

Eight women interviewed by g1 said they had undergone procedures with the professional between 2020 and 2023: These are stories of procedures being performed by resident doctors, lack of attention and support during recovery after surgery, bleeding, infections, mutilations and deformities (read the reports).

In a note, the hospital said that “the Commission found that patient safety protocols were followed in all surgical procedures carried out at the institution. The doctor in question registered his presence at the institution on the days of the procedures, as well as signed the Room Note , a document completed and signed by the doctor responsible for the surgeries. In addition, all safe surgery protocols were carried out, including the application of a checklist with the entire team present before starting the surgical procedure” (Read the note in full below).

Watch a report below with complaints from victims

Police investigate complaints against doctor for negligent care

According to delegate Ajaribe Rocha Pinto, head of the 10th Police Station of Porto Alegre (10th DP) and responsible for the investigation, the oldest case under investigation would have taken place in 2019. The most recent, 2023.

“There is suspicion of serious bodily injuries, negligence and malpractice. Seventy-five investigations have already been opened. The victims were sent for additional examinations that are pending with the General Institute of Expertise. We await the reports to proceed with the investigation”, says the delegate.

The doctor denied the accusations. According to the IGP, “several women” have already gone to the Legal Medical Institute (IML) “to undergo a forensic examination”. Some reports are to be sent to the Civil Police and others are being prepared.

“The expert’s role, in these cases, is to record the findings of the clinical examination and analyze any medical documents presented. Poor aesthetic results depend on many factors that are difficult to evaluate, and the opinion of the Medical Council (regarding the technical part) and the assessment by the Judiciary (which may be understood as likely to generate compensation)”, explained the IGP.

“In view of the aforementioned case, an Internal Commission was established to analyze the facts, as soon as Ernesto Dornelles Hospital became aware of the occurrences, through news published in the press, following the required protocols and respecting legal processes.

It is important to highlight that until the moment the case was first reported in the press, there had been no record of complaints through official service channels in the last three years.

The Commission found that patient safety protocols were followed in all surgical procedures performed at the institution. The doctor in question registered his presence at the institution on the days of the procedures, as well as signed the Room Note, a document completed and signed by the doctor responsible for the surgeries. Furthermore, all safe surgery protocols were carried out, including the application of a checklist with the entire team present before starting the surgical procedure.

The final evaluation report found no irregularities or abnormalities in the plastic surgery area within the Ernesto Dornelles Hospital. The institution maintains an unwavering commitment to the well-being and safety of its patients. It is important to highlight that the institution does not have control over services provided in private offices, which are the exclusive responsibility of each professional. Therefore, the institution does not manage subsequent outcomes in private offices, without returning to the hospital“.