7 hospital staff face probe over boy’s death

CEBU, Philippines - At least seven doctors and other staff of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center are included in an investigation into the death of a seven-year-old boy.

The medical professionals are from the Emergency Room Department, Surgical Department and Pediatric Department of the hospital.

The investigating body of VSMMC is now tracing those who were on duty at the time Jezniel Rocina was admitted to the hospital to check if proper information were given to the boy’s parents, as part of VSMMC’s protocol, said Dr. Ramon Najarro, chairman of the Pediatric Department.

 Rocina died while being treated at VSMMC last Nov. 12 and his relatives are accusing the hospital staff of negligence.

The boy’s mother, Teresita, of Barangay Cabugao, Pinamungajan, filed a complaint before the hospital management, asking for clear answers regarding to her son’s death.

Najarro said that the boy’s parents are not questioning the competence of the hospital but are concerned on the ethical behaviors of the medical professionals who attended to their son.

According to Najarro, Rocino was taken to VSMMC following the referral of Dr. Vernon Dumdum of Balamban town for a surgery. Physicians at VSMMC, after evaluation though, reportedly found out that the boy’s case was non-surgical.

The hospital surgeon then referred the boy to a doctor for infection.  Rocino reportedly complained of fever and abdominal pains.

“There are several conditions caused by fever and abdominal pain because any infection in the intestine cause abdominal pain and the patient complained on pains in his cuff muscles… he could be suffering from a dengue fever, leptospirosis, and other infections,” Najarro explained.

Rocino was given IV fluid (dextrose) before he was given penicillin and Ceftriaxon (antibiotic). He was also given Tramadol, a pain reliever.

It was stated in the death certificate that Rocino died of cardiopulmonary arrest with an antecedent cause of sepsis secondary to intra abdominal infection. — /NSA (FREEMAN)