Here is the response of Cebu Puericulture Center and Maternity House Inc. Medical director to letter of Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella
May 28, 2014
Honorable Edgardo C. Labella
Acting Mayor
Cebu City
Dear Honorable Labella,
Hospital lawyer Cornelio Mercado and two nurses face a fact-finding inter-agency government panel looking into the handling of baby Yohannes Noval, whose mouth was taped to hold a pacifier. (CDN PHOTO/ JUNJIE MENDOZA)
This is an answer to your inquiry about the recent news regarding Chesiel Arsua.
According to the baby’s pediatrician and based on the baby’s hospital record, Baby Blaire Arsua was born full term by Normal Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery (NSVD). The baby was referred for tachypnea (that is a respiratory rate above normal) and chest retractions.
In this case, the respiratory rate of Baby Blaire was 70 – 80 breaths per minute. Oxygen inhalation was given to the baby at 2L/minute via nasal cannula, as shown in the photo. The baby was not allowed to feed because of the chance of aspiration. Because of this, she became agitated and kept on crying which could worsen the condition of the baby. So a pacifier was given to calm the baby whose breathing was very fast.
I would like to clearly state that we have our hospital Special Intensive Case Unit (SICU) policy manual which includes the breastfeeding policy which states that pacifiers are not allowed. However, the use of pacifiers in certain special cases like the sick and the premature babies is the discretion of the baby’s pediatrician. It’s not a practice of our nurses to put plaster on the baby’s mouth but only to anchor the pacifier to the upper lip or to the side of the mouth as shown in the picture.
It is my fervent hope that this explanation will answer your queries.
Sincerely yours,
Dr. Raida G. Varona, FPOGS
Medical Director
Cebu Puericulture Center and Maternity House Inc.
Acting Mayor of Cebu City
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