A six-year-old boy with a dry cough tragically died after medics allegedly administered an adrenaline dose “meant for a heart-attack patient.”
Benício Xavier de Freitas was taken to the hospital also had suspected laryngitis, following two bouts of fever.
He was seen by a doctor, who prescribed nasal rinses, syrup, and three 3ml doses of intravenous adrenaline at 30-minute intervals, it is claimed.
Dad Bruno Freitas said that after a nurse gave his son the first dose: “He went pale instantly.
“His face turned white, his feet yellowed, and his nose and eyes reddened.
“He writhed and said, ‘Mum, my heart is burning.’”
Benício – an only child – was rushed to the emergency room, but his blood oxygen level quickly dropped to around 75%.
He was intubated in the ICU around 11pm but responded poorly to the procedure on Saturday (23 Nov)
He suffered six consecutive cardiac arrests, each followed by resuscitation attempts.
Despite the efforts, the sixth arrest proved fatal, and Benício died at 2:55am on Sunday (24 Nov).
Hospital Santa Júlia in Manaus, Brazil, has opened an inquiry into the case, as reported by Need To Know.
On Wednesday (26 Nov), it announced that the doctor and nurse involved had been suspended.
Benício’s parents accuse the doctor of prescribing the wrong adrenaline dose.
Bruno said: “She said it was a system error and a nursing error. But everything had been prescribed by her.
“The dosage was clearly written.
“He only had a dry cough. That dose is meant for someone having a heart attack. We understand it was an extremely serious mistake.”
Police and the Regional Medical Council are also investigating.
Bruno added: “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.
“We wouldn’t wish this pain on anyone.”
READ MORE: Opera-goers groan as protester hijacks show with rambling rant
