On the afternoon of Friday, January 31, a tragic episode shook the center of Teresina, capital of Piauí. A man – whose identity is being protected by the authorities to protect his family – died while he was in a room of a well-known brothel in the city center.
According to a report from an employee at the establishment, the customer suddenly became ill while having sex, causing an uproar among employees and customers.
As soon as they realized that the situation was out of control, employees called the Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU).
The team arrived within minutes, but despite attempts to resuscitate him, the rescuers found that the elderly man no longer showed vital signs. He was declared dead at the scene, taking into account parameters of absence of pulse, breathing and neurological response.
Amid the commotion, the first information emerged about possible factors that could have precipitated the malaise.
People present reported to health professionals and police that the man had consumed alcohol before going up to the room, in addition to having allegedly taken an unspecified medication. Some visitors even mentioned pills used for erectile dysfunction, but the exact nature of the drug – as well as its dosage – has not yet been officially confirmed.
The interaction between alcohol and certain medications can lead to cardiovascular overload, arrhythmias or sudden drops in blood pressure, circumstances that often increase the risk of fatal events, especially in individuals with a history of heart disease. However, to date, there is no conclusive evidence that these factors have directly contributed to the outcome.
In view of the unexpected death in a private setting, the Military Police cordoned off the scene until experts from the Technical-Scientific Police Department arrived. The experts conducted a photographic survey, collected evidence and conducted preliminary interviews with employees and other witnesses, as is standard procedure in cases of death without an obvious cause outside of a hospital unit.
The body was then taken to the Institute of Forensic Medicine (IML) for an autopsy. The forensic doctors will evaluate factors such as the condition of the heart, the presence of changes in vital organs, signs of acute myocardial infarction or cerebral hemorrhage, in addition to collecting blood and urine samples for toxicological tests.
The preliminary expert report is expected to be ready within ten days, and may be extended if additional tests are necessary. Only after the IML is completed will it be possible to clarify whether alcohol consumption, the alleged medication or pre-existing conditions – such as hypertension or heart disease – were determining factors in the death.
The case rekindles discussions about the risks associated with the indiscriminate use of drugs, especially those intended for erectile dysfunction, when combined with alcohol or in patients with an unassessed cardiovascular history. Cardiology experts warn that men over 60 years of age should undergo regular medical monitoring and undergo clinical evaluation before using substances that can alter circulatory dynamics.
Meanwhile, the establishment where the incident occurred has resumed operations, albeit in a climate of consternation. Management stated that it is fully cooperating with the authorities and stressed that it had never recorded a similar incident. The victim’s family, informed by the police, are now awaiting the results of the tests to understand the circumstances of the sudden loss.