WHAT’S NEXT? Members of the technical working group of the Regional Children’s Welfare Committee meet to discuss the next steps to be taken in the ongoing investigation on the case of a newborn whose mouth was plastered shut. (CDN PHOTO/ JUNJIE MENDOZA)
One week after the issue surfaced, the Cebu Puericulture Center and Maternity House has yet to submit an incident report on the taping of a baby’s mouth, the investigation now includes two other agencies aside from the health department.
As the Women and Children Protection Desk of Cebu City Police Office (CCPO-WCPD) joins the Department of Health (DOH) 7, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in the inter-agency probe, Insp. Luzviminda Langbid expressed dismay over the hospital’s lukewarm reception.
The CHR is leading the probe. After a meeting yesterday, the CCPO-WCPD was tasked to get details and spent three hours at the maternity hospital before management entertained them.
Not one of the nurses or hospital staff met with the authorities.
What they only got, according to nurse Philip Yray, one of the members of the fact-finding committee of DOH-7, was a letter from the hospital’s board of directors requesting for a “joint investigation.”
The letter was handed over to investigators by the hospital’s chief nurse. It explained that a joint investigation with the hospital is for “transparency.”
“If they will coordinate then we assure that after 48 hours we can already have the results,” said lawyer Dante Jadman of CHR-7.
The inter-agency group will file charges against the hospital if it continues to be uncooperative. As of yesterday, authorities have yet to get the name of the nurses involved.
Grace Yana, social worker from DSWD-7, learned from the baby’s parents that the hospital will release its investigation result on Tuesday. She added that the United States (US) Embassy has also expressed support because the baby’s father is a Filipino-American citizen.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) asked the public not to issue judgment right away, saying what happened was an isolated case and does not reflect on the entire nursing profession.
Edith Rose Santos, president of PNA-Cebu, however said what happened was not malpractice “because there was no bad intention of doing that.” But she admits the use of pacifier is discouraged.
PNA-Cebu Chapter supports the investigation but hopes “due process is given to the nurse involved.” Santos said they can provide legal aid to the nurse.
The only time they issued a statement was last Monday, saying the hospital administration is conducting a deeper investigation. All hospital staff, according to Medical Director Raida Varona, all hospital staff on duty on May 9 are under investigation./with a report from Chito Aragon
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