A police investigation is underway following the death of a patient at a rehabilitation clinic in the Xerém neighborhood of Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro. The victim, identified as 35-year-old Rodney Camilo Lesio, was discovered inside a swimming pool at the facility on April 19th.
The clinic, known as Instituto Vitalis, specialized in treating individuals with chemical dependencies and psychiatric disorders. However, authorities have confirmed the establishment was operating without the necessary authorization from local health and municipal authorities. A subsequent inspection revealed multiple irregularities at the site.
The clinic's director, Jéssica Adriana Washington da Silva, provided a statement to police claiming she found Rodney in the pool in a state of agony and that his death followed a seizure. The official cause of death remains pending as the Institute of Legal Medicine (IML) has not yet finalized its autopsy report.
Rodney's family has strongly contested the clinic's version of events. Relatives state that Rodney was autistic with high support needs (level 3) and was placed in the institution for specialized care. They report he had previously been moved between different units operated by the same group in cities like Magé and Duque de Caxias.
The family raised several points of suspicion. They allege the clinic had been previously evicted from other locations, only to reopen elsewhere and relocate patients. Furthermore, they claim they were blocked by the director after the incident. Rodney's brother, Rodrigo Camilo Lésio, found it particularly strange that the director identified herself as a "friend" when bringing him to the hospital, not as his caregiver.
According to the Consumer Protection Police (Decon), which is leading the investigation, the clinic lacked both an operating license and a permit from the Duque de Caxias Health Surveillance agency. Police noted the facility had been previously notified and given a 30-day period to comply with regulations, a deadline that was not met.
During a recent inspection, officers found nine people interned at the facility, including drug users and patients with psychiatric disorders. The director was taken to the police station for questioning and subsequently released. She will face charges of ideological falsehood and illegal practice of a profession. Police also noted she has a prior record for theft.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities planning to interview family members of other patients to look into potential irregularities and allegations of mistreatment. The Prefecture of Duque de Caxias did not provide information on whether it had been monitoring the space. Based on reporting from g1.