Rio de Janeiro police investigate death of woman after childbirth

Police in Rio de Janeiro are investigating the death of 28-year-old Jéssica Duarte Gonçalves following childbirth at the Hospital Maternidade Mariska Ribeiro in Bangu. The family has alleged medical negligence, suggesting that medical staff may have left foreign material inside the patient's body, leading to a generalized infection.

According to family members, Gonçalves entered the hospital on September 8 experiencing strong contractions. Although she requested a cesarean section, her request was reportedly denied, and she gave birth later that afternoon. While the infant was born healthy, Gonçalves experienced severe abdominal pain. Her husband, Jhonatan Vieira de Moura, stated that a staff member attempted to manually remove blood clots from her body during the night.

Family members claim that despite reporting intense pain, medical staff dismissed the symptoms as gas and prescribed only dipyrone. Gonçalves was discharged on September 10 despite continued pain, but her condition deteriorated rapidly, requiring her to return to the hospital the same day. The 34th DP (Bangu) has requested an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.