High bloodsugar could delay Napoles' surgery

MANILA, Philippines - The surgery to remove the uterine myoma on alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles has yet to be scheduled as doctors at the Ospital ng Makati (Osmak) and her personal doctors are still monitoring her high bloodsugar level.

At a press briefing Friday, Dr. Perry Peralta, Osmak medical director said Napoles' seven personal physicians from St. Luke's Medical Center-Global, have also requested to review the results of the earlier tests and examinations done on her.

Peralta said that should Napoles' condition stabilize, the operation could possibly push through Sunday.

"Ang challenge ng management to both teams is surgery on Sunday. However, ang request naman ng team which we gave in to is they would like to review and reexamine Mrs. Napoles before we can really set a date for the procedure," Peralta said.

Peralta earlier said the Ospital ng Makati will have its own counterpart team of doctors to help manage the health condition of Napoles alongside her team of personal physicians.

According to Peralta, although Osmak has agreed to have the personal doctors of Napoles take part in her treatment at the hospital, they will only do so subject to the provisions of the orders of the Makati court and the polcies of the hospital.

"The Ospital ng Makati will give the personal doctors of Napoles
limited privilege to practise in the Ospital ng Makati," he said.

Napoles doctors who will take part in her surgery include her personal obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Elsie Badillo-Pascua, Dr. Efren Domingo, Dr. Leo Alquilizan, Dr. Michael Lim-Villa, Dr. Nick Cruz, and an unnamed anesthesiologist.

Peralta said the St. Luke's team will be headed by Pascua and Domingo who will also serve as Napoles' main attending doctors.

Peralta said the Osmak medical team for Napoles meanwhile will be headed by Dr. Florentina Villanueva, an obstetrician-gynecologist.

Peralta also said the Osmak team of doctors has met with two of Napoles' personal physicians Friday to discuss medical procedures and possible treatments for her.

On Wednesday, Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 Judge Elmo Alameda issued an order authorizing Napoles' own choice of doctors to participate in her treatment.

The court earlier granted Napoles' motion to undergo surgery and be confined, but not at St. Luke's Medical Center, the hospital of her choice. Instead, the court chose OsMak, a public tertiary hospital within the court's jurisdiction.

Peralta said the Osmak team will be composed of a cardiologist, an endocrinologist, an anesthesiologist, a gynecologist-oncologist and a pathologist.

Peralta added that Napoles will shoulder the fees of her private doctors as her request to have them treat her “will incur additional charges."

Peralta added that Osmak is well-equipped to handle Napoles' treatment.

"The treatment required for Mrs. Napoles is not special and the Ospital ng Makati can do it. We have to take it into the consideration the welfare of the patient regardless whether Napoles is the patient or not..." he said.