Hospital staff probed for refusal to admit patient

MANILA, Philippines - The medical personnel of a city government-run hospital in Binondo, Manila have been placed under investigation for allegedly refusing to admit a sick beggar brought to the hospital for treatment.

Dr. Teodoro Martin, medical director of the Mother and Child Hospital, told The STAR an investigation is underway to determine the possible lapses of his staff. He said Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has strict orders for city-run hospitals to treat every patient, no matter their status in life.

Martin said there may have been miscommunication between the barangay tanods who brought the beggar and the hospital’s security guard.

According to hospital records, the patient was hooked up to an oxygen tank because he had difficulty breathing. Minutes later, the tanods took him from the hospital. He was found dead on a sidewalk in Sta. Cruz the next day.

Police quoted the barangay tanods as saying they brought back the beggar to his usual resting place after hospital staff refused to admit him since he had no relatives to take care of him.

Martin said patients with no relatives are brought to a local social welfare unit where they are cared for by its staff.

The hospital is coordinating with barangay chairwoman Thelma Lim to find the tanods, who could shed light on the incident.