“Medical malpractice” OFW to press charges against hospital staff

CEBU, Philippines - Dissatisfied by the outcome of the conference with Mandaue City Hospital officials, the overseas worker whose wife died of alleged malpractice has decided to press charges against the hospital staff involved in the fiasco.

Cesar Coliflores said he was not satisfied with the results of his meeting Wednesday with the hospital officials. Coliflores, 42, together with his lawyer Inocencio dela Cerna met with the hospital officials at the office of Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes. The meeting was mediated by city attorney Giovanni Tianero.

"Determinado gyud ko nga mo-file og kaso sa ilaha aron kahatagan og hustisya ang kamatayon sa akong asawa,” Coliflores said.

Aside from the administrative charges, Coliflores is planning to file criminal complaints for homicide.

His wife, Jocelyn, died at the Mandaue City Hospital on January 2 while being treated for headache.

Coliflores said the hospital failed until now to answer several questions surrounding the death of his wife. Among them is the real cause of his wife’s death.

Dela Cerna said the hospital officials could not give them a clear answer on why the patient died. They are also questioning why the hospital staff tied the patient to the bed.

"It turned out nga daghan kaayo mi og mga pangutana nga wa gyud nila matubag. We came over unta to have answers...This is an act of clear negligence and malpractice not only on the doctors but also the nurses who restraint Mrs. Coliflores, and it is confirmed gyud nga gipusasan gyud siya,” Dela Cerna said.

A security guard had allegedly handcuffed the patient after she became uncontrollable following the administration of a drug supposedly to calm her down.

A representative of the security agency said during the conference that the guard involved did not anymore report for work. Dela Cerna also questioned why the attending physician prescribed a medicine on the patient without having her to undergo medical and laboratory examination to determine her illness.

"They could not explain it, according to them, nganung ga wild si Mrs. Coliflores," Dela Cerna said.

Tianero also observed that the hospital staffers are not sure of their answers to the several questions hurled by the husband of the patient.

Tianero said the results of the conference will form part of the city government’s own investigation into the incident.

"This conference will form part on the investigation. We (City Legal Office) are willing to dig deeper on what really happened," he said.

Tianero said they are still waiting for the report of the Department of Health-7’s investigation.  (FREEMAN)