Anaesthetist ‘sexually assaults pregnant woman during C-section after heavily sedating her to carry out attack’
A SICK anaesthetist allegedly sexually assaulted a pregnant woman while carrying out a C-section after heavily sedating her to carry out the attack.
Giovanni Quintella Bezerra, 32, has been arrested on suspicion of rape after he was caught on camera assaulting the woman at the Hospital da Mulher in São João de Meriti, Rio de Janeiro.
His colleagues became suspicious about the amounts of drugs he was dishing out to his patients, according to Brazilian news outlet Globo.
Bezerra reportedly carried out two other surgeries on Sunday – but his concerned medical team struggled to set up a hidden camera to find out what he was doing.
The team managed to change the operating room at the last minute for his third surgery of the day and installed a secret camera.
Shocking footage showed the anaesthetist putting his penis in the unconscious woman’s mouth.
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The woman is seen lying on the bed as the hospital’s surgical team begin the C-section.
On the other side of the surgical sheet – less than a metre away from his colleagues – Bezerra assaulted the patient for nearly 10 minutes.
Clovis Bersot Munhoz , president of Cremerj, described the horrific incident as “absurd”.
The Health Foundation of the State of Rio de Janeiro and the Secretary of State for Health said: “We inform you that an internal investigation will be opened to take administrative measures.
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“The Hospital da Mulher team is providing full support to the victim and her family.
“This behaviour constitutes a crime, which must be punished in accordance with the legislation in force.”
Cops are now trying to find other potential victims of the anaesthetist.
Barbara Lomb, from the local police station, praised Bezerra’s heroic colleagues for their “exemplary” professionalism.
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She told Globo: “It is necessary to highlight the performance of the nursing team and exemplary health professionals who noticed the movement of the doctor’s body in other surgeries.”
Bezerra reportedly completed his medical specialisation in anaesthesia two months ago.
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.