Six-Year-Old Boy Dies After Alleged Medication Error in Brazil

A tragic incident in Manaus, Brazil has led to the death of six-year-old Benício Xavier de Freitas, following a reported medical error involving the administration of an incorrect dosage of medication. The young boy suffered six consecutive cardiac arrests while hospitalized, resulting in his untimely death on November 23, 2023.

Benício was admitted to the hospital with a suspected case of laryngitis and a persistent dry cough. According to his father, Bruno de Freitas, the boy received three consecutive doses of intravenous adrenaline at 30-minute intervals, which were allegedly intended for patients experiencing heart attacks. Shortly after receiving the first dose, Benício exhibited alarming symptoms, telling his mother, “Mum, my heart is burning.”

Despite the medical team’s efforts, Benício’s condition rapidly deteriorated. His oxygen levels fell dangerously low, and he was intubated in the intensive care unit around 23:00. Medical personnel managed to resuscitate him after the initial five cardiac arrests, but he ultimately succumbed to the sixth. He was pronounced dead at 02:55 on Sunday.

The nurse responsible for prescribing the intravenous adrenaline has been suspended as investigations into the incident begin. Bruno stated, “She said it was a system error and a nursing error. But everything had been prescribed by her. The dosage was clearly written.” He emphasized that Benício’s only symptoms were a dry cough, asserting that the dosage administered was not appropriate for his condition.

The child’s parents took additional steps to alleviate Benício’s cough by administering nasal rinses and syrup prior to his hospital visit. However, following these treatments and the adrenaline dose, Benício’s health declined sharply. Bruno recounted, “He went pale instantly. His face turned white, his feet yellowed, and his nose and eyes reddened.”

In the aftermath of this tragedy, the hospital has initiated an internal investigation, and local authorities, including the police and the Regional Medical Council, are also involved. Bruno expressed his heartbreak, stating, “We want justice for Benício and for no other family to go through what we are experiencing. What we want is for this never to happen again.”

This incident echoes a recent case in which Ilona Kazik, a first-time mother, died from a brain bleed just days after giving birth. She reportedly received inadequate care from medical professionals who sent her home twice from Luton and Dunstable University Hospital despite her complications.

The loss of Benício highlights the critical importance of medication safety and the need for rigorous protocols in healthcare settings to prevent similar tragedies in the future.