Supreme Federal Court reinstates evidence in Curitiba hospital death investigation

The Supreme Federal Court (STF) has reinstated the validity of evidence collected during a 2013 investigation into patient deaths at the Hospital Evangélico de Curitiba. The decision, issued by Minister Alexandre de Moraes, overturns a previous 2025 ruling by the Superior Tribunal de Justiça (STJ) that had annulled several pieces of evidence.

The reinstated evidence includes 670 medical records of patients who died in the hospital's General Intensive Care Unit (ICU) between January 2006 and February 2013. These records were obtained through search and seizure warrants used by the Public Ministry of Paraná (MPPR) to investigate Dr. Virgínia Helena Soares de Souza, the former head of the ICU, and other professionals.

Investigators allege that the accused administered medications to patients without therapeutic justification, contributing to the deaths of at least 101 people. The charges include qualified homicide and criminal conspiracy. With this ruling, criminal actions and police inquiries that were suspended due to the previous annulment of evidence can now proceed.