Patient’s family won’t file case; Davide to probe
Winston Garcia, One Cebu gubernatorial bet, said the Capitol should ensure “free emergency services and supplies ” to any patient who needs it from a district hospital in the province.
He said this should be done starting today or it would be “criminal neglect” that his office would file cases over.
Garcia scored the death of an infant due to dehydration after the family was allegedly turned away because they couldn’t buy a bottle of dextrose and medicine in the Minglanilla District Hospital in south Cebu.
Dr. Cynthia Genosolango, provincial health officer, who visited the hospital, told reporters the baby was administered dextrose contrary to reports that nothing was done.
“Initial reports revealed that the child patient was brought to the hospital for treatment of diarrhea but eventually died after the family’s failure to purchase the prescribed medicine,” said Gov. Hilario Davide III.
“While there are allegations of lack of concern on the part of the hospital personnel, in the interest of fairness, I am giving these people a chance to explain their side,” he added.
He said indifference on the part of government employees to the public has no room in public service under his watch.
After the case was exposed in a Facebook post and then the news media, the family said they weren’t interested in filing a complaint against hospital personnel.
Juanita Bariquit said she and her family want to be left in peace after all the publicity.
“Na-headline na gyud mi. Di mi gusto og samok. Hunungon na lang ni (We’ve already landed in the news. We don’t want the controversy. Let’s just stop this),” she told reporters who visited her at home in Tuyan, Naga City, where a vigil was held for one-year-old Mary Jane.
The family wouldn’t let reporters enter their home or take photos.
Only Juanita, the baby’s grandmother, spoke with reporters because the infant’s mother, Jessie, said she no longer wanted to recall her experience.
Republic Act No. 8344 already makes it unlawful for any hospital and medical clinic to refuse to administer initial medical treatment and support in emergency or serious cases.
Violation by a medical practitioner or employee of the hospital or medical clinic draws a a penalty of six months to two years imprisonment or a fine of P20,000 to P100,000.
If the violation is in line with a hospital or clinic policy, or instruction of management, the director or officer of the facility shall suffer four to six years imprisonment or a fine of P100,000 to P500,000 or both.
The baby’s death first surfaced in a witness’s Facebook post.
It said Mary Jane was brought to the Minglanilla District Hospital at 10 p.m. on Saturday after two days of diarrhea and vomiting.
A female doctor allegedly turned the family away because they had no money to pay for dextrose and medication.
They needed to pay P700, but only had P200 in their pocket.
Moved by the family’s condition, witness Apple Soberano said she confronted the doctor.
A short commotion reportedly broke out after medical staff called police to escort Soberano and her boyfriend off the premises.
Soberano and her boyfriend offered to buy the dextrose and other medications.
Soberano, in her post, said an intern struggled to find a vein to administered the dextrose. An attending doctor had to take over. By then it was too late. The infant died at 12 a.m., the post read.
Penalize
Following the exposure on Facebook, Juanita said someone from Hong Kong called her, telling her to expect a donation of P6,000. She was also given P2,500 by a concerned resident of Argao.
Garcia said starting today he was making available five lawyers to any victim to help file appropriate criminal charges against Capitol officials.
Garcia visited Mary Jane’s vigil wake yesterday afternoon. He said he went there to “sympathize and extend (financial) assistance,” but did not encourage the family to press charges.
“This is what I have been harping all along since August. Even emergency services have to be paid. The Capitol has been making a business out of the misery of the sick and the dying,” said Garcia.
Garcia will be running against Davide in 2016.
His program of government includes a promise to offer free hospital services throughout the province once he becomes governor.