Raps mulled vs hospital for rejecting stab victim

Officials and medical practitioners of a hospital in Valenzuela responsible for turning away a stabbing victim, who later died, could face a maximum of two years in jail and be fined a maximum of P100,000.

The family of the late seaman Rizalino Carrido, 23, a resident of Barangay Gen. T. de Leon, Valenzuela, is planning to sue the Fatima Medical Center.

Health Undersecretary Alex Padilla said over radio station dzBB yesterday his office is willing to help Carrido’s family if they decide to file a case against the hospital.

It is illegal for hospital to refuse admission to emergency cases, he added.

Marcial Camanague, 62, the tricycle driver who first took Carrido to the Fatima Medical Center, told police that hospital personnel at the emergency room refused to admit the victim because he was not accompanied by relatives.

Hospital personnel told Camanague to bring Carrido to other hospitals because Fatima Medical Center was “a private hospital,” police sources said.

Officials of Fatima Medical Center could not be immediately reached for comment.

Carrido died from severe loss of blood on the way to another hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

Under Batas Pambansa 702, as amended by Republic Act 8344, in emergency cases, it shall be unlawful for a hospital or medical clinic to refuse to administer medical treatment and support to prevent death or permanent disability.

If the patient was refused admission based on an established policy of the hospital or clinic or upon instruction of management, the director or officer of the hospital or clinic responsible for the formulation and implementation of the policy shall be imprisoned for four to six  years, be fined as much as P500,000, or both. – Jerry Botial