CEBU, Philippines - After the death of a one-year-old baby allegedly because of poor treatment by Minglanilla District Hospital personnel last November 7, two cases of a similar nature have surfaced, this time involving four-year-old children..
The two children, who allegedly were not also properly attended to, died weeks before the death of Mary Jane Bari-quit, whose case was blamed on alleged negligence of the hospital because her parents had no money to buy medicine.
Because of the incident, the Cebu provincial government will subject a doctor of the hospital to an investigation for possible violation of a provincial ordinance that mandates government-run hospitals to provide free medical care to children ages zero to six years old.
This was after the Provincial Health Office learned in its inquiry that Mary Jane’s family was asked to buy the medicines prescribed by attending doctor Agnes Ademano when these were available at the hospital’s pharmacy.
Mary Jane’s grandmother Juanita went to a private pharmacy to buy the medicines but her money was not enough. A concerned citizen who noticed her crying outside the hospital helped Bariquit buy the medicines.
The hospital’s staff members were summoned to the Capitol yesterday to appear during a closed-door meeting with PHO Chief Cynthia Genosolango, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, Board Members Celestino Martinez III and Peter John Calderon.
Genosolango said there was a lapse in judgment when Ademano “automatically” prescribed the medicines for purchase outside when there was stock available at the hospital’s pharmacy, which was closed at the time as it was already past 10 p.m.
She said she learned that the nurses did not know that they can access the hospital’s pharmacy even without the licensed pharmacist since the key was just with the security guard.
For his part, Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III said he was ashamed of the incident, which he said also bothered his conscience.
“I express my deepest condolence to the grieving family of Mary Jane Bariquit…who died over the weekend under circumstances questioned by some quarters,” he said in a press statement.
The governor has yet to learn of the other two incidents that similarly show alleged neglect by the hospital.
Honey Alipar of Deca Homes, Barangay Tungkil, Minglanilla said the hospital’s personnel did not immediately attend to her child Jamaica when they went there last July 13.
“Hinay ug langay kaayo una kami natagad sa buhatan sa emergency room, tungod kay labay-labayan lang me sa mga health personel,” she said.
She said her child was ignored because they did not have yet the medicines they were asked to buy, which took them time because they had to look for money first.
“Sa dihang naglisod na akong anak ug nisulirap na ang mata niini diha na ang dinalian nga pagtabang ug giingnan pa ko sa doktor nga ‘maam wala miy sala sa kamatayon sa imong anak maam tungod kay wala man miy gamit nga magamit, hinungdan amo lang siya injection-nan sa kasing-kasing,” Alipar alleged.
She said they no longer complained to authorities after her child died because it would no longer bring Jamaica back.
Last October 7, Jincent Kaa Arces Tuballa, four, also of Phase 3, Deca Homes in Tungkil, Minglanilla, likewise died in the hospital.
“Human ko giprangkahan sa doctor, nibalik kini sa lingkoranan ug nag-text-text sa cellphone ug dul-an sa duha ka oras wala gayud mi gipansin niini, hinungdan nangaliyupo ug nanghangyo ko sa doktor nga tabangon akong anak tungod kay nisulirap na ang mata niini. Diha pa mi gipansin sa doctor,” said Jincent’s mother Jenelyn.
The doctor, she said, abruptly left them after saying their child was already dead.
“Sa among pag-abot wala gayud mi giatiman hangtod niabot sa punto nga katapusan nigakos akong anak ug nisulirap ang mata. Diha na siya gitabang ug nihangyo pa ang bata sa katapusan higayon kanila sulod sa tambalanan nga matulog nalang siya,” she said.
Jenelyn narrated that when said she would just bring her child to a private hospital, the doctor allegedly remarked, “Ngano man misis naa moy down nga P30 mil aron mobalhin mo didto?”
She said she came out in the open after learning of what happened to Mary Jane so that no more children would suffer the same fate, which also happened to her child.
Meanwhile, saying his piece on the issue, lawyer Winston Garcia, Davide’s opponent in the 2016 elections, said the governor’s apology on Mary Jane’s death is not enough.
Cebu first district Representative Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas, on the other hand, pushed for the investigation and punishment of the hospital personnel involved.
“I urge that the hospital (personnel) be investigated and if found negligent, their acts should not go unpunished. Heads should roll if the hospital is found to be deficient in providing safe and suitable medical care for patients like Mary Jane,” he said in a statement.
“The primary objective of the practice of medicine is service to mankind irrespective of race, age, disease, disability, gender, sexual orientation, social standing, creed or political affiliation,” he added.
Also, asked if it could look into the matter, the Commission on Human Rights-7 admitted it is “not capable and competent” in handling complaints on medical malpractice in public hospitals.
CHR-7 Special Investigator III Leo Reyes Villarino said medical malpractice cases are quite complex and typically require testimony from a qualified medical expert to prove liability. He said cases like malpractice, negligence and other medical issues are not within their ambit, stressing that CHR only has forensic services and does not have doctors to look into such cases.
“I have to be frank and brutal about this…Wala mi ingana nga competence. Who are we to tell doctors nga nasayop sila? We were never in a position to investigate whether or not a doctor committed lapses amounting to malpractice,” he said yesterday.
He, however, said they can assist supposed victims, particularly in drafting affidavits, gathering statements, history, and collating other proofs or evidences to back up complaints. — With Gregg M. Rubio/RHM (FREEMAN)