Couple files multi-million suit versus 2 doctors and hospital

CEBU, Philippines - A simple medical procedure that has allegedly gone awry has led a couple to file a multi-million damage suit against two doctors and the hospital where the patient was confined.

An executive of Globe Telecom and her husband have filed a damage suit against Cebu Doctors University Hospital and two doctors, who allegedly performed a wrong operation June last year.

Katrina Lilia Morada-Poca, her husband Roberto Rama Poca and Katrina’s Mother Alice Canonoy Morada filed charges of medical malpractice, tort and damages against Cebu Doctors University Hospital, Inc., obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Marivic Tan and surgeon Dr. Manuel Villamor before the Regional Trial Court yesterday after having been confined for over a month last year.

Katrina, in her complaint said that in their desire to have a baby, in May 2008, she and her husband Roberto had eggs from Katrina’s ovary fertilized with the sperms of her husband to be later implanted in her womb, a medical procedure known as in-vitro fertilization.

When the embryos were ready for implantation, Dr. Tan, whom Katrina had known since her college years, told Katrina that a mass containing water called ‘hydrosalpinx’ was found in the patient’s left fallopian tube.

Tan apparently told her that the mass should be removed as it might adversely affect the implantation of the fertilized embryos.

Dr. Tan ordered for a video-laparascopy which is said to be a minor operation.

Katrina said that she was assured that the operation will only take 45 minutes to one hour. The procedure was done on June 12 of last year at Dr. Tan’s clinic.

The complainant alleged that the procedure led to several complications and Dr. Tan asked Dr. Villamor to help her as she reportedly claimed that it was beyond her competence.

Katrina had to undergo another operation two days later by another doctor due to complications and another ten days after the first.

She underwent a fourth operation to repair the damage in her body and when she finally was discharged from the hospital on July 9, her bill reached P2 million.

After leaving the hospital the victim still had to undergo therapy sessions.

The complainants are asking for P2.1 million in actual damages and P400,000 for expenses incurred.

They are also asking P5 million for moral damages and P500,000 each for Roberto and Katrina’s mother.

Another P1 million has been asked for exemplary damages and P300,000 for attorney’s fees.—Jasmin R. Uy/NLQ   (THE FREEMAN)