Justice for medical malpractice victims

CEBU, Philippines - The Archdiocese of Cebu is calling for justice for victims of medical malpractice and negligence.

Cebu Auxiliary Bishops Dennis Villarojo said justice needs to be served especially for those medically neglected patients or individuals.

“To the extent that there is a clear sign of neglect then it is anybody’s duty, no less than the church that we should call for justice,” he said when asked about the stand of the church on cases of alleged malpractice in public hospitals.

 Several cases of alleged medical malpractice were reported in the media, including the recent death of one-year-old Mary Jane Bariquit, who died due to alleged negligence of Minglanilla District Hospital personnel.

An eight-month-old Harry Morgan Visaya also died on June 7 allegedly due to lack of precaution by St. Anthony Mother and Child Hospital medical personnel. Baby Morgan died of severe dehydration and diarrhea.

Another incident involved a newborn baby whose mouth was taped by the staff of Cebu Puericulture Center and Maternity House, Inc., last year.

Villarojo said victims of these incidents have the right to emergency and basic health services.

He added that these should have not happened if medical facilities took “careful steps.”

Won’t be affected

The Provincial Health Office believes that the manpower at Minglanilla District Hospital will not be affected by the recent dismissal of a doctor who allegedly committed lapses which resulted to the death of a one-year-old child.

But the province-owned facility has not yet reached the needed number of medical specialists with only five left, including the chief of hospitals, three of whom were hired under contracts of services based on the Capitol record on the number of medical officers in the district and provincial hospitals.

The record also shows that the Minglanilla District Hospital actually needs more six medical officers, whose positions remain vacant as of yesterday.

PHO head Cynthia Genosolango said each of the two of the remaining doctors is reporting two to three days a week, another one is serving 24 hours, and one is assigned at the outpatient department from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

She said they will also be pulling out doctors from other hospitals if the need arises.

She added that Capitol is still hiring replacement of Demano and for other 15 province-run hospitals. There are 119 more vacant positions for medical officers.

Capitol terminated the contract of Dr. Agnes Demano, who was hired under job-order arrangement, following the death of Mary Jane Bariquit

Hospital fees

Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez, Jr. said Governor Hilario Davide III should not be blamed for the collection of fees in provincial and district hospitals since it started during the time of former governor, now third district Representative Gwendolyn Garcia.

During the 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza yesterday, Martinez showed the media copy of Provincial Ordinance No. 2008-10 which prescribes fees of services in the provincial and district hospitals.   

Martinez said he remembered Garcia saying before that no more free services for provincial and district hospitals.

Garcia pointed out that ordinances are legislative works and that she as governor approved them as part of her ministerial duty. — Kristine B. Quintas, Michael Vencynth H. Braga, Gregg M. Rubio/LPM (FREEMAN)