Benício case: Doctor and nursing technician become defendants in child death

The Justice of Amazonas made doctor Juliana Brasil and nursing technician Raiza Bentes Praia defendants for the death of Benício Xavier de Freitas, aged 6, in November 2025, after the child received doses of adrenaline through a vein, at the private hospital Santa Júlia, in Manaus.

According to the decision, published this Wednesday (3), the professionals are now liable for qualified homicide with possible intent, since they assumed the risk in applying the doses in Benício.

In May this year, a police report concluded that the boy died from an adrenaline overdose.

In the complaint made by the state Public Ministry, and accepted by the Court, Benício's health worsened after Juliana issued an electronic prescription for the use of the medication intravenously for the patient. The substance was administered in the manner prescribed by Raíza Bentes, which, according to the complaint, caused the child's death.

Soon after receiving doses of adrenaline into his vein, Benício presented symptoms of paleness, bulging eyes and complained of pain.

In addition to becoming a defendant for qualified homicide, the doctor was also accused of ideological falsehood, since, according to investigations, the professional even used stamps and guides declaring that she had a specialty in pediatrics, without having an RQE (Specialist Qualification Register).

However, in the decision, judge Fábio César Olintho de Souza dismissed other suspicions involving the professional, due to procedural fraud and use of a false document. The Court also ordered the partial shelving of the investigations in relation to other parties involved (hospital managers and doctors on duty).

According to the Court, the magistrate also authorized Benício's parents, Bruno Mello de Freitas and Joyce Xavier de Carvalho, to act as prosecutor's assistants, so that they could monitor the process together with the Public Prosecutor's Office.

Benício case: Delegate details the progress of the investigation to CNN | CNN NEW DAY

In the same decision, the judge also denied a request presented by Juliana's defense, for changes to be made in the way witnesses were presented by the Public Prosecutor's Office. According to the judge, the defense's premise would be "wrong", since the list of witnesses would be within the parameters of legal limits.

After receiving the complaint, the Court ordered that the defendants be summoned to present a written response to the accusation within ten days. However, if they are not located, Juliana and Raiza must be cited by notice.

CNN Brasil tries to locate the defense of the defendants and the space remains open for demonstrations.

Remember the case
Benício Xavier de Freitas, aged 6, died in the early hours of November 23, 2025, after receiving an intravenous dose of adrenaline.

In an interview with CNN Brasil in December last year, delegate Marcelo Martins, responsible for the case, detailed the direction of the investigation and pointed out systematic flaws that would have led to the child's death.

According to the delegate, the investigation can now confirm that there was a systemic error involving several health professionals at the hospital. Among the main errors identified is the incorrect prescription of intravenous adrenaline, made by doctor Juliana Brasil Santos, when the medication should be administered by nebulization.

According to Marcelo, the Court of Justice of Amazonas granted habeas corpus to the doctor as it understood that she had not made a mistake in prescribing the medication. Juliana Brasil's defense presented as evidence a video that would show the hospital system automatically changing the route of administration of the medication.

The two professionals were removed from their duties at Hospital Santa Júlia.

Doctor admitted her mistake
According to the police, the doctor had also admitted her mistake in WhatsApp messages and also in a medical record. The investigation showed that, after the child's death, Juliana tried to tamper with her own medical prescription in order, according to witnesses, to free herself from any blame for her own prescription.

In the document, the doctor says that she "wrongly prescribed intravenous adrenaline." However, at first, he tries to hold Benício's mother responsible for the wrong application.

Benício case: Court denies arrest request after doctor presents video

Source: CNN