Mandaue couple turns to Cebu City Hall for legal aid

Mrs. Antonieta Torreon, mother of the new burn baby who died during delivery, steps out of the office of Cebu City mayor Michael Rama in an early close door meeting. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

Although they are Mandaue City residents, the couple whose premature baby died at childbirth turned to the Cebu City government for legal assistance.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama referred the case of Redjie and Antonieta Torreon to City Legal Officer Jerone Castillo.

“If proven that there was malpractice, let the responsible persons be charged,” the mayor said.

Castillo, who met with the couple yesterday, said the mother insists her baby Luis “was forcibly delivered even if he came out feet first.”

He asked the parents to wait for the autopsy results and submit a copy so they can evaluate if this can suppport a complaint against the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), where the mother gave birth last Sept. 14, a Sunday.

The government hospital earlier stated in their initial findings that the premature baby had little chance of survival and that the fetus, which was in a breech position, was already dead when the mother delivered.

The mother was referred to VSMMC in Cebu City from the Eversly Childs Sanitarium in Mandaue where the mother had an ultrasound test the day before and reported the baby was “alive”.

Review

“It appears to me that the mother is serious (in pursuing the case). We can provide them assistance in preparing the affidavits. We have to acknowledge the fact that the alleged malpractice happened in Cebu City and the city government has to act,” Castillo said.

At the Department of Health (DOH), the agency’s information officer Suzzette Jabonete said a five-member fact-finding committee has started to review the Torreon couple’s case.

The committee is headed by Dr. Sophia Mancao, head of the DOH regulation, licensing and enforcement division.

Complaint

“The two hospitals only forwarded the initial investigation. We are expecting the full report within this week,” Jabonete said.

All documents will be forwarded to Health Secretary Dr. Enrique Ona.

While the parents haven’t filed a complaint yet, DOH will consider the complaint of Wilfredo Abapo of Tisa Hills, who said he was the baby’s grandfather.

Noy Mongaya, VSMMC information officer, said he met with the Torreon couple.“We are happy that they submitted to our complaint handling process,” Mongaya said.

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