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The Human Rights Commission of the Bar Association (CDHOA) concluded that both in Lar do Comércio, in Matosinhos, and in the institution of care for the elderly in Reguengos de Monsaraz, there are “indications of serious violations of Human Rights.” In both institutions, 41 people died in the covid-19 outbreak. The reports indicate responsibilities for the management of both homes, in addition to the case of Reguengos, the local health authority and the Alentejo Regional Health Administration (ARS).
In a statement issued this morning, the commission said that everything points to the violation of norms provided for in the Constitution, such as the Right to Life, the Right to Personal Integrity, the Right to Liberty and Security and the Right to Health. specifically, the Home for the Aged Reguengos de Monsaraz also speaks of the violation of the Constitutional Consumer Law.
The CDHOA, which publishes the two final reports that resulted from an investigation process, says that for its preparation it used various documents and testimonies, mainly from relatives of the users. The commission reports that it met with the Order of Physicians, with the National Confederation of Solidarity Institutions, with the Union of Portuguese Mercies, with the Home Support Association for Homes and Residences for the Elderly and with the General Directorate of Health. .
Regarding the Maria Inácia Vogado Perdigão e Silva Home in Reguengos de Monsaraz, the Human Rights Commission of the Bar Association attributes responsibility for what happened at the institution, where an outbreak of covid-19 caused 17 deaths among users and an employee. , both to the management of the home, as well as to the local health authority and the Regional Health Administration (ARS) of Alentejo.
The commission concluded that the lack of conditions did not allow limiting the transmission of the virus and that the patients “were not treated in accordance with good clinical practices with responsibilities for those who, knowing that they did not have adequate and prepared human resources, allowed the situation to resolve. delay. on time. “And they add:” Those responsible, who were alerted by professionals, did not act in a timely and consistent manner, keeping patients in painful circumstances and facilitating the growth of the outbreak, before transfer to the ward. “
The body of the Illustrious Bar Association considers the decision to transfer the infected to a ward “late”, a measure that it considers should have been taken at the beginning of the outbreak. “Even in better conditions, the lack of management and coordination continued to prevent patients, professionals and volunteers from being in a safe environment, a responsibility that can be attributed, once again, to ARS Alentejo and the Health Authority,” read the note. CDHOA guarantees that those responsible for the pavilion always demanded the permanent presence of doctors and nurses on the premises, thus assuming the clinical gravity of the situation and the need to divert health professionals from their usual workplaces. Therefore, he concludes: it is not understood to keep patients in an inappropriate place for a differentiated care.
As for Lar do Comércio, the commission reports that “insufficiency or inadequacy” was detected in the administration of medicines and in the food and hygiene of users, as well as failures in the procedures in case of suspicion. Among the conclusions is the fact that the contingency plan that existed on April 8 presents “numerous non-conformities, not respecting the most basic regulations of the General Directorate of Health” and that there are no “some personal protective equipment” in the institution of Matosinhos.
The body of the Illustrious Bar Association also points out that there was “a lack of information about the health status of the neighbors and their relatives” and speaks of the “repeated non-compliance with the non-conformities verified in the joint inspections” of the civil protection, the chamber , the local health unit. and Social Security. A preliminary report has already been prepared which, however, is subject to contradictions.
The commission notes that it is now up to the courts to determine the validity of the findings and apply possible sanctions, in addition to awarding any compensation to the injured parties. The Illustrious Bar Association calls “for urgent measures to be taken to prevent situations of this nature from recurring. “It is the duty of the State to protect public health and this duty takes on special intensity when it comes to especially vulnerable people, such as the elderly in homes,” the statement concludes.
