Baby’s death at Minglanilla hospital: Health exec notes lapses

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Province’s Integrated Provincial Health Office has found some lapses on the way personnel of Minglanilla District Hospital attended to a one-year-old girl patient whose recent death became a hot topic over social media.

Acting on the instruction of Governor Hilario Davide III, IPHO Chief Cynthia Genesolango meet for five hours personnel of the hospital who were around when Mary Jane Bariquit of Sitio White Sand, Tuyan, City of Naga was brought there for vomiting and diarrhea.

“Sa initial nga information nga nakuha nato dunay nakita natong lapso sa panghitabo nga mahimo rang makorihian,” Genesolango said.

In particular, she said that while there is actually medicine in the hospital, there was no “gauge 26” needle available when Bariquit was rushed there last Friday.

“Adunay mga pamaagi aron makakuha og tambal ang usa ka pasyente.  Una, pinaagi sa pagkuha sa botika sulod sa tambalanan.  Ug kung sirado ang maong botika kay walay licensed pharmacist, mahimo ra ang mga nagdumala sa Emergency (Room) ug nurse ang mokuha niini pinaagi sa paghuwam og yawe sa security guard,”Genesolango said. 

“Mahimo ra usab mokuha sa tambal ngadto sa pribado nga botika sa gawas kay mahimo ra man sila ang mobayad pinaagi sa PhilHealth,” she further said.

She said she was also confused why the doctor, identified as Dr. Agnes Ademano, already prescribed several medicines for a child who was already in a dire situation.

“Makigtagbo ko pagbalik…sa mga trabahante sa Minglanilla District Hospital  sa atong buhatan sa Kapitolyo aron makakuha pa ‘ta og dugang information ug aron usab akong masusi kung aduna bay manubag sa maong insidente,” Genesolango said.

DOH-7 Director Jaime Bernadas said they would also look into the allegation of neglect by the hospital by asking reports from the hospital administration about the incident and validating them.

Their fact-finding, he said, would examine the physical status of the patient before she died, status of the emergency room and its capacity, and establish who were the physician and nurses who attended to the child, among others.

If the government-run hospital found at fault in child’s death, Bernadas said, the chief of hospital and the attending hospital personnel may be held liable.

As protocol, Bernadas said all health facilities are mandated to attend to medical and surgical emergencies without asking the patient or his/her parents or guardians if they can afford the medical expenses.

“In an emergency situation, the patient must be attended to immediately by the physicians without questions if they can pay or not,” he said.

Davide has assured that the Capitol will provide assistance to the family of the baby.

Meanwhile, the child’s family has received an outpouring support from people who read the Facebook post of Cherry Cris Soberano on how personnel of the hospital did not give attention to baby last November 6.

According to Soberano, she received many calls from people who were willing to help.

“Nakadawat ko  og donation gikan sa usa ka Tina Michelle, lumad nga taga-lungsod sa Dumanjug ug temporaryong nagpuyo sa Hong Kong bali og sais mil ka pesos; ug dunay mga dili magpaila nga nihatag usab sa ilang donasyon nga akong gihatag sa pamilya,” she said.

She said her post had her getting worried over her safety but that she felt it was the right thing to do.

“Sa pagka karon nabalaka ko sa maong trahedya tungod sa akong seguridad; pero andam ko mobarog alang sa kaangayan ug katarungan para sa mga kabus,” she said.

Soberano said many people have signified their intention to donate but she give instruction to them to go directly to the family to give their assistance.

In her post, Soberano said she saw the child’s mother crying because her child was dying and they were told to go out of the hospital allegedly because they had no money.

“Akung g away ang doctor aku g ingnan na doc.nagtinga na ang bata dli ninyo atimanon inyong gipagwas ni Ana ra ang doctor.na wala man sila naka palit og dextros og dagom ang bata nang lagum na..ayha pa sila nanglihok tanan ilang gitrapohan og basa,” she said.

Despite what happened, however, Juanita, the baby’s grandmother, said they were not keen on pursuing a case against the district hospital.

“Di lang mi anang mokiha kay di mi gusto og samok. Hilomon na lang na. Naa na may mga mitabang,” she told reporters.

She confirmed receiving P6,000 from “a Filipino in Hong Kong” and P2,500 from someone in Argao. – Rowena D. Capistrano, Kristine B. Quintas, Michael Vencynth. Braga/RHM