Bolsonaro Discharged After Multiple Surgeries
Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has been released from DF Star Hospital in Brasília, where he had been treated for a week, undergoing four different surgical procedures.
The 70-year-old ex-president, currently facing a 27-year sentence for “crimes against democracy,” spent eight days in the hospital from Christmas Eve to January 1.
During his time in the hospital, Bolsonaro dealt with complications from his 2018 stabbing incident, where he was seriously injured. A man named Adelio Bispo de Oliveira attacked him during a campaign rally, affecting his internal organs significantly.
He was admitted on December 24 for bilateral inguinal hernia surgery. The operation received approval from Supreme Federal Tribunal (STF) Judge Alexandre de Moraes. It allowed for Bolsonaro’s “secret” transfer from prison to the hospital, with stringent security measures enforced during his stay.
The hernia surgery went smoothly on December 25, thanks to a careful evaluation from his medical team regarding potential risks due to pre-existing health conditions. Dr. Claudio Birolini, who heads Bolsonaro’s medical team, mentioned considering another surgery to address the persistent hiccups that have troubled him for years, a complication also linked to the stabbing.
Subsequently, Bolsonaro underwent a phrenic nerve block to help with the hiccups, which involved two surgeries on December 27 and 29. The fourth operation that week aimed to enhance the previous treatment.
On December 31, he had an endoscopy that revealed ongoing esophagitis and gastritis. Dr. Birolini later noted that while the hiccups did lessen somewhat, they remained an issue, and further examination suggested the cause might be linked to his central nervous system rather than just diaphragm issues. The team proposed additional treatments, including techniques for diaphragmatic breathing and possibly hypnosis.
Dr. Birolini warned that more invasive procedures could potentially lead to diaphragm paralysis without effectively addressing the hiccups.
Following several months in custody, Bolsonaro is currently under house arrest at the Federal Police headquarters in Brasília, after being discharged from the hospital. Upon his release, he was seen leaving in a police vehicle, surrounded by officers, while supporters outside the hospital voiced their encouragement.
Lawyers for Bolsonaro have consistently requested that he be granted humanitarian house arrest since he began serving his sentence, but those requests have been denied by Judge de Moraes.
On Thursday, de Moraes rejected his latest appeal, emphasizing that his defense had not provided any new evidence to justify a change in his confinement status. He noted that Bolsonaro’s health had not deteriorated and, in fact, had improved post-surgery.
According to de Moraes, all medical prescriptions requested by Bolsonaro’s defense will be met while he remains in the Federal Police facility, where he has access to round-the-clock medical care and personal physician services.
Bolsonaro’s son, Carlos, voiced his disapproval of the lengthy sentence on social media, suggesting that the judiciary’s actions are not a fair exercise of the law but rather an abuse of power.
He criticized the systemic issues in Brazil, arguing that the enforcement is not aligned with constitutional rights and puts his father in physical danger.
