A medical student who dreamed of becoming a dermatologist was left vegetative after “botched” surgery on her jaw.
Larissa Moraes de Carvalho went into cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) after surgery to fix her abnormal jaw growth.
She has been in a vegetative state ever since the op on 16 March.
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About a month ago, Larissa, 31, was discharged from hospital and is now receiving home treatment.
The surgeon, the anaesthesiologist, and the health facility in Juiz de Fora, north of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, are under investigation.
They are suspected of a number of actions and omissions that led to the tragic outcome.
There was allegedly a 17-minute period between her leaving the post-anaesthetic care unit and arriving in another room.
During that period, no one had noticed that she was in a state of CPA.
Investigators add that she was allegedly given inadequate assistance after it was detected, as reported on Need to Know.
During Larissa’s time in hospital, she bravely saw off pneumonia and a urinary tract infection.
Even though she’s now back home, she is having to be looked after.
Her father, Ricardo Carvalho, told local media: “We have nurses around the clock.
“She needs to have physiotherapy and speech therapy every day.
“She’s fed and medicated through a tube.
“She also doesn’t have control over her bodily functions and needs to wear nappies.”
Ricardo says Larissa was studious, loved volleyball, and was always surrounded by friends.
She already had a pharmacy degree under her belt when she began studying medicine in a bid to become a dermatologist.
He recalled: “She studied in Panama, interned in the South, worked in Bahia, and then moved to Rio de Janeiro to study medicine.
“Wherever she went, she made friends and kept those friendships alive.
“When she was more stable, we allowed four friends to come to the hospital room.
“They brought an album with over 50 photos.
“I didn’t realise that in just one year, my daughter had touched so many people.
“I had no idea how loved she was.”
The police investigation continues.
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