Brazil’s imprisoned ex‑president Jair Bolsonaro suffered a fall in his prison cell, hitting his head, but a hospital transfer request was denied by a top judge, according to reports.

Brazil’s 70‑year‑old former leader fell out of bed while sleeping early on Tuesday and struck his head on a piece of furniture inside the Federal Police Superintendency in Brasilia, where he is serving a 27‑year prison sentence for plotting a coup attempt following his 2022 presidential election defeat.

What Happened in Bolsonaro’s Prison Cell

Michelle Bolsonaro, the former president’s wife, posted on Instagram that her husband had a “crisis” during the night, leading to a fall that caused a head injury. She wrote that Bolsonaro was not immediately attended to until the morning, when prison medical staff evaluated him.

Federal police doctors assessed Bolsonaro’s condition and reported that he only suffered minor injuries from the fall and saw no immediate need for hospitalization. They added that any decision to refer him to a hospital rests solely with the Supreme Federal Court (STF).

In her message, Michelle Bolsonaro said the family planned to take him to a hospital for comprehensive tests, indicating ongoing concerns about his health. However, that request hit a legal roadblock.

Supreme Court Denies Hospital Transfer

Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes denied Bolsonaro’s legal team’s request to allow him to immediately leave prison for medical tests in a hospital in Brasilia. The judge ruled that, based on the initial medical report, there was no urgent justification to transfer the former president to a hospital setting.

Justice de Moraes acknowledged that Bolsonaro’s lawyers have the right to seek medical examinations, but he stressed that these should be scheduled in advance and justified with specific medical reasons. The judge asked the defense to detail exactly what assessments they wanted and whether these could potentially be conducted within the prison system itself.

Medical History and Recent Hospitalizations

Bolsonaro has a documented medical history, including multiple hospital stays and surgical procedures stemming from a 2018 stabbing attack during his presidential campaign.

In December 2025, he underwent several medical interventions to treat a painful bilateral hernia and recurrent hiccups — the latter an unusual, chronic condition that required specialized care. After these procedures, he was discharged from DF Star Hospital on January 1 and returned to custody in Brasilia.

Bolsonaro’s Legal Situation

The denial of hospital transfer comes while Bolsonaro continues to serve his sentence of 27 years in prison for his role in a coup plot intended to overturn Brazil’s democratic results in 2022.

Despite his health concerns and medical episodes, including the December surgeries, the Supreme Court has repeatedly denied related legal petitions, including past requests for house arrest based on health grounds.

Expert Commentary

Legal analysts say the court’s strict approach reflects a broader emphasis on ensuring the former president serves his sentence under conditions defined by Brazil’s judiciary and penal system, rather than granting exceptions without clear medical necessity. Furthermore, the judge’s insistence on pre‑scheduled exams aims to balance Bolsonaro’s right to health care with court oversight of prison‑related medical decisions.