Lucas Saldanha Ortiz, an orthopedist from Toledo, Paraná, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Tribunal de Justiça for illegally charging patients for surgeries performed under Brazil's Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Between 2015 and 2017, Ortiz reportedly collected between R$ 50 and R$ 200 from at least eleven patients, misleading them into believing that these fees were necessary for costs related to the surgery, such as instrument technicians, anesthesiologists, and even for the surgery itself.

The investigation, led by the Ministério Público, involved testimonies from victims who detailed how Ortiz insinuated that the performance of the surgeries was contingent upon their payment. Among the victims, at least two indicated that they were unable to afford the demanded amounts and resorted to borrowing money to fund the payments. Ortiz has also been ordered to pay a substantial fine of approximately R$ 98,500 in addition to his prison sentence.

Despite the severity of the charges, Ortiz is allowed to appeal the decision while remaining at liberty. This case highlights significant issues regarding ethical practices within Brazil's publicly funded healthcare system and brings attention to the vulnerabilities of patients who may be coerced into making unlawful payments in order to receive medical care.