Hospital protocol followed

CEBU, Philippines - Initial validation of regional state health agency found no fault in Mandaue City Hospital in terms of operation in the incident involving the sudden death of a patient shortly after the New Year.

“Sa karon, wala pa tay major nga nakita. Ang among gitan-aw ang medisina, dosages. It is well within the acceptable practices pero wala pa mi makita nga problema ug tinuod og unsay nahitabo sa pasiyente nganong namatay,” said Department of Health-7 Regional Director Dr. Jaime Bernadas.

However, the probe does not cover the alleged malpractice of medical professionals as suspected by the family of Jocelyn Coliflores as the reason behind her death.

Cesar Coliflores alleged that the doctors and nurses who attended to his wife committed neglect that led to her death.

The procedural matters that DOH looked into primarily were within clinical practice guidelines such as the time the patient was admitted, the procedures done to her and if these procedures conformed to the protocol.

He added specific patient records are not part of the information the hospital can share even with DOH as these are protected by the law on doctor-patient confidentiality.

Only a court order can require the hospital to divulge this information.

“Kung dunay questions on the diagnosis and dunay naka-prove ana, dili nami makatubag ana. It’s the other agency who can do that,” Bernadas said referring to the “correct” agency to act on malpractice complaints.

The DOH chief reite-rated that as far as complaints related to malpractice are concerned, like in the case of Mandaue City Hospital which is run by the Mandaue City government, all the health agency can do is look into how the hospital operates.

This is because the Professional Regulations Commission is the proper agency to evaluate and regulate the practice of medical professions.

“Ang proseso on identification sa problema if there are complaints on practices and malpractices, anaa na nabutang sa PRC of which naay proseso pud nga buhaton.  If dunay i-file, sa PRC or moagi sa Philippine Medical Association for doctors, Philippine Nurses Association for nurses, and so forth.  It is never within the Department of Health except if the employee is a national government employee or under the DOH,” Bernadas said.

Apart from the DOH regional office, offices and facilities under DOH direct supervision are the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu, the Governor Jose Gallares Memorial Hospital in Bohol, the Eversley Childs Sanitarium in Mandaue City, the St. Anthony Mother and Child Hospital in Basak, Cebu City, and the Talisay District Hospital.

Cases and complaints regarding employees under these facilities and offices can be acted upon by DOH like conducting administrative investigation and sanctions but the malpractice cases are still with PRC.

For LGU-run hospitals, the local government unit holds the regulatory power.

“In general, kung kinsa ang nag-hire, siya ang mo-discipline, siya ang mo-fire. It follows nga kung LGU nag-hire, mayors or governor ang mo-discipline, siya ang mo-dismiss,” he said.

The DOH is likewise writing the Commission on Human Rights to emphasize that the primary agency to act on malpractice complaints is the PRC and not DOH.

Bernadas said he also wants to meet with Cesar Coliflores so they can also obtain information from the complaining party apart from the hospital’s side.

The autopsy findings, the DOH chief added, will shed light on the questions as to the real cause of Jocelyn’s death.

“The autopsy will cover everything. Kung kinsa ang nag-cover sa autopsy, he is best to answer questions. Kay ang autopsy will always reveal which part of the body ang problemado, which part could have been the most probable cause of death, kay kalit man ni nga namatay. Unya, didto sa autopsy, ang makita, ang physical evidence. Meaning, kung dunay naigo nga part sa lawas makita microsco-pically ug structurally makita na siya. Then, kung dunay chemicals involved, medicines ug unsa pa, makita usab na sa forensics examination,” Bernadas said.

Based on the death certificate that the hospital released, Jocelyn died of “probable ruptured cerebral aneurysm” while the autopsy result issued on the same day by the PNP Regional Crime Laboratory Office said Jocelyn died due to “sudden cardiac arrest” and “left ventricular hypertrophy.”  —/BRP (FREEMAN)