Lucas Saldanha Ortiz, an orthopedist from Paraná, Brazil, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for charging patients between R$ 50 and R$ 200 for surgeries under the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). The crimes took place between 2015 and 2017, with the Public Ministry of Paraná (MPPR) reporting that at least 11 patients fell victim to Ortiz's illegal fees. He claimed the money was necessary to cover costs associated with the surgeries, despite the fact that they were entirely funded by SUS. During the trial, testimonies revealed that Ortiz linked the surgeries to the payment, putting patients in difficult financial situations. Some victims reported needing to take out loans to afford the fees, making the situation particularly egregious given that these were essential medical procedures supposed to be accessible without additional costs under Brazil's public health system. The legal repercussions included both his prison sentence and a hefty fine. In a broader context, this case sheds light on the issues within the SUS system, highlighting the potential for corruption and abuse by healthcare professionals taking advantage of vulnerable patients. The ruling not only serves as a punishment for Ortiz but also sends a message regarding the importance of upholding integrity and trust within the public healthcare framework, aiming to deter similar cases in the future.