Portimão Court has passed judgment on the case of Vera Alves, who died after undergoing ovarian surgery at a private Algarve hospital.
The case dates back to April 2011 when the victim, a 27-year old nurse, underwent surgery to improve her chances of conceiving.
Vera Alves died as a result of an injury to her abdominal aorta artery and a laceration to her liver caused during surgery.
The operation was undertaken at the Hospital Particular do Algarve in Alvor, Portimão, by the then head of obstetrics and gynaecology Dr Madlen Youssif Benun.
The prosecution alleged that the death of Vera Alves was due to the negligence of Dr Madlen Benun during surgery who had failed to proceed with the degree of caution that, "under the circumstances, was required and of which the defendant was capable."
One of the managers of the hospital said that at the time of the incident there was no general surgeon back-up at the hospital, the nearest was called, taking about 25 minutes to reach the operating room but the Court absolved the hospital of any blame.
The court verdict was that the gynaecologist had acted negligently and carelessly.
During the trial, three doctors were heard as witnesses - an anaesthetist an obstetrician and a general surgeon – who all were involved with the surgical procedure. They claimed that Madlen Benun "acted in accordance with the normal procedures for the situation."
The Judges though otherwise and Madlen Benun must pay a fine of €20,000.
