'Dead woman' wakes up in coffin - An elderly woman who was declared dead - only to wake up two days later inside a coffin in a funeral home

Workers at the mortuary noticed Maria das Dores da Conceicao breathing and stirring two days after her 'death'

'Dead woman' wakes up in coffin

Brazilian police are investigating the case of an elderly woman who was declared dead - only to wake up two days later inside a coffin in a funeral home.

The 88-year-old woman died two days after the incident and police in Minas Gerais state want to know if poor medical care and the misdiagnosis contributed to her death.

The O Globo newspaper, citing a press release from the Ipatinga mayor's office, says doctors thought Maria das Dores da Conceicao died Wednesday afternoon.

But she was rushed back to the intensive care unit of the same hospital - coffin and all - on Friday after workers at the mortuary noticed her breathing and stirring.

One of da Conceicao’s grandchildren Noeme Silva Amancio told Brazil’s G1 website that she saw her grandmother looking very much alive when she arrived back at the hospital in the hearse.

"She was breathing and moving about on one side of the coffin more than when she had been initially hospitalised," she said.

The city’s mayor said police would investigate why da Conceicao had been pronounced dead and had her death certificate signed.

Da Conceicao had been admitted to the hospital on Tuesday and had a medical history of hypertension, vascular disease and dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease.

The O Dia newspaper reported that she had part of her leg amputated in November.

Custodia Amancio, da Conceicao’s daughter said the family was happy to know her mother was alive but unhappy with the lack of respect due to her.

"We are still not sure if we will sue the municipality and hospital," she added.

Source: Agencies
Published Dec 27 2010

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