Wrong body was cremated after two bodies were misidentified
The Algarve’s public hospital bosses have offered to resign from their posts after two bodies were misidentified at Faro Hospital’s morgue, which led to the wrong body being cremated.
In a statement to the press, the administration board of the Algarve University Hospital Centre (CHUA) says the “serious error” took place on November 3.
The board says that it contacted the affected families after learning of the situation and expressed its “deepest apologies” and offered all the “support” they might need.
“We are sorry about this serious incident and present our deepest apologies and condolences to the families. We accompany them in this moment of pain,” the board adds.
On a closing note, the administration board says that “several safety norms” are followed when confirming the identity of deceased patients. It adds, however, that an inquiry is underway to establish how such a mistake could be made and what changes need to be made to prevent it from happening again.
The fate of the CHUA administration board is now in the hands of Ministry of Health.
