AVOIDABLE DEATH IN FORENSIC CASUISTRY. CASE REPORT
Abstract:
Population health multideterminism (hereditary, individual, environmental, cultural, socioeconomic
factors etc.) makes it difficult to quantify it. One of the indicators assessing health is mortality
caused by treatable diseases that can be prevented by medical intervention or secondary prevention. We
present the case of a nursing mother on day 7, 23 years old, who, after giving birth spontaneously,
assisted obstetrically, to a live, eutrophic fetus had a postpartum evolution apparently favourable
discharged on request. Subsequently, two days after discharge, she returns to the Emergency Room (ER)
with deeply impaired general condition with symptoms of septic shock. The diagnosis of pelvicperitonitis
with severe toxic-septic condition was set. Although surgery was on emergency (total
hysterectomy with bilateral ovariectomy), the patient died intraoperatively. Forensic autopsy revealed
an aspect suggestive of a long evolution of a septic pelvic-peritoneal process with multisystem organ
failure (MSOF), confirmed by complementary examinations performed (bacteriological examination and
histopathology). Data provided by caregivers revealed the existence of an old chronic suffering, which
although diagnosed during hospitalization, was ignored by the patient, who has not observed the
medical advice. Through the lack of therapeutic compliance, this case falls into the category of
avoidable deaths occurring in younger people, whose forensic autopsy is required.
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