Hospital: JVR’s son could not wait to be treated

CEBU, Philippines - The son of Talisay City Mayor Johnny V. de los Reyes demanded immediate treatment and left for another hospital when Mandaue City District Hospital (MCDH) emergency room staff could not because they were dealing with patients in life threatening conditions.

This is the clarification of Dr. Maria Lourdes Espinoza, MCDH administrator, on the report that de los Reyes' son John Venth and his companion were denied treatment at the hospital after they suffered burns during an accident last Saturday.

In a telephone interview, Dr. Espinoza told The FREEMAN that the hospital did not refuse treatment on John Venth and his girlfriend Salve Vega. She said the emergency room personnel were very busy when they came.

Espinosa said that initial assessment conducted by the hospital staff showed John Venth and Vega's injuries were not life threatening attending to the other patients took precedence.

"Di ingon nga gibalibaran (It is not that they were refused), busy ang emergency room, daghan mang gi-ambu bag (many were being resuscitated)," she said.

Espinoza said that when both victims arrived, they demanded immediate treatment.

"Demanding kaayo sila.  Pag-abot miingon nga ipa-una kay sakit na ang paso (They were so demanding. When they arrive, they asked that they be attended to first because their burns were very painful)," she said.

She also said that while it is true that the hospital indeed ran out burn ointment, the physician and can issue a prescription so the medicine would just be bought outside.

But, Espinoza said, both John Venth and Vega decided to transfer to another hospital shortly after arriving.

"Dali ra kaayo na sila.  Miingon man ang usa nga dili man diay ta atimanon diri mamalhin ta (They did not stay long.  One said that since they would not be attended to immediately, they might as well go to another hospital)," Espinoza said.

John Venth and Salve suffered burns in their bodies after the hose of the radiator tank of the motorcycle they were riding exploded around 10 p.m. last Saturday in Subangdaku, Mandaue City.

Both victims suffered severe burns, with John Venth having second degree burns on his right leg.

Espinoza said that at the outset, both victims did not mention their names or that John Venth was actually the son of the Talisay City mayor.

She said it was just that their priority during that time were the other emergency cases because the hospital was already in full capacity.

She said that an hour after both victims left for another hospital, an alleged relative of Vega arrived with a lawyer who reportedly did not introduce himself and a TV5 crew.

Espinoza said she failed to get the names of the lawyer and of the TV5 crew with him.— /RHM  (FREEMAN)