Juraci Rosa Alves, 88,was pronounced dead on May 16 after a hospital in Presidente Bernardes cited respiratory failure. while his body was being prepared for a wake, staff at a funeral home in Presidente Prudente noticed he was still breathing and rushed him back to a hospital, where he remains in serious but stable condition.

Juraci Rosa Alves declared dead on May 16 in Presidente Bernardes

The initial diagnosis came from a doctor at a local hospital who listed respiratory failure as the cause of death. According to the report, Alves was then transferred to a funeral home for standard post‑mortem procedures, a routine step for families in the region.

Funeral home staff spot abdominal movement, revive 88‑year‑old

Jacqueline Brogiato , the funeral home’s technical nursing supervisor, told local media that when Alves was placed on the preparation table, staff observed unusual abdominal movement that suggested breathing. "At first, when we realized there were vital signs, our only thought was to save him," Brogiato said, describing how she cleared his airway until emergency services arrived.

Emergency responders immediately sedated and intubated Alves, then transported him to a hospital in Presidente Prudente. the rapid response prevented the body from being embalmed and allowed doctors to attempt life‑saving measures.

Police open ‘failure to provide assistance’ case after premature pronouncement

Authorities were alerted when the funeral home staff discovered Alves was alive, and police have registered the incident as “failure to provide assistance.” The investigation focuses on whether the original doctor’s declaration of death was premature and whether protocol was followed at both hospitals.

Hospital in Presidente Prudente treats Alves in ICU,internal inquiry launched

Alves now resides in an intensive‑care unit, intubated and listed as serious but stable. His family’s lawyer, Carlos Alberto Carneiro, warned that the delay in proper care could worsen his condition given his age. The original hospital in Presidente Bernardes announced an internal inquiry to clarify the sequence of events and has offered cooperation with investigators.

Who will answer the unanswered details?

The name of the doctor who first declared Alves dead has not been released, and it remains unclear how long the patient was without oxygen before the funeral home’s intervention. These gaps leave families and regulators questioning the reliability of death‑certification practices in smaller Brazilian hospitals.