Danao hospital execs probed over dengue patient’s death

CEBU, Philippines — A week before his fourth birthday, a young boy suffering from dengue was “robbed” of his life after a government-run hospital allegedly refused to admit him.

The fatality was identified as three-year-old James Francis Gulfan, a resident of Carmen town. His story went viral after his aunt, Arlene Reigo, posted the family’s sentiment on Facebook which gained about 10,000 reactions.

 “I thought the reason why we have doctors is to save life but it's not what we experienced days ago with our little boy. Let me share you all guys the painful and saddest story of our little boy from General Hospital Danao City,” she wrote.

On November 25, Reigo said, Gulfan started experiencing a high fever. The following day, the young boy was brought to the community health center, where the family was advised to have the complete blood count (CBC) of the child taken. His platelet count was at 242.

“They were advised na ipa-admit jud ang bata kay knowing positive sa dengue gi-refer sila sa Danao. Carmen doctor called a doctor na ga work sa General Hospital telling na ipa-admit ang bata,” the aunt said.

The family brought the child to Cebu Provincial Hospital - Danao City.

But Reigo said the hospital allegedly refused to admit the child thrice, saying that the child still has a high platelet count. The first was when the platelet count was 242, followed by 149 and 103.

Worried about the child’s condition as he started refusing to take water and food, the family asked the hospital management to admit the child for in-patient treatment and be given dextrose.

The family further claimed that the hospital refused anew, reasoning out that it was already full and they can no longer accommodate the child.

On November 28, the child was finally admitted, but his platelet count dropped to 49 in the evening from 69 in the morning.

At six in the morning on the next day, Gulfan was already complaining of abdominal pains and his platelet count further dropped to 19.

The family decided to transfer the child to a hospital in the city instead. The provincial called other hospitals which may accommodate the child.

“Kay niingon ang nurse na dili daw modawat ang mga hospital karun kung walay down ug walay naandam na ward. At that time naglisod na ang bata ug ginhawa naratol nami pero ang doctor nag sige lag kupot sa telepono. Nag-rant nami pero mura ra silag wala. Wa juy niasikaso sa bata para dad-on sa ambulansya kami ready to go na unta. Nisulirat na ang mata sa bata didto pa sila nilihok gitabang na nila hangtud wala na gyud amo,” Reigo said.

The child died. His wake is at the residential area in Barangay Poblacion in Carmen town.

After the viral story of the death of a 3-year-old dengue victim, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) is currently conducting a fact-finding investigation into the incident.

PHO Head Dr. Rene Catan said he has tasked the chief-of-hospital in Danao to gather the necessary details before they can come up with appropriate action.

He said the issue can be viewed in two perspectives—clinical and administrative.

He added that the death is a “cause for concern” considering that dengue is a common disease.

On the administrative side, Catan said the investigation will determine if the hospital staff have liabilities in terms of the child’s death.

The PHO chief also pointed out that a hospital must never refuse to confine a patient.

“Walay katungod ang atong hospital nga mobalibad tungod kay kulangan og doktor or kulangan og fasilidad. They’ll have to facilitate the transfer,” he said.

In a separate interview, Dr. Shelbay Blanco, Health Emergency Management Staff (HEMS) coordinator of the Department of Health-7, said DOH cannot act on the issue just yet sans a formal complaint.

“The DOH cannot work on something that has no basis unless there is a valid and formal complaint submitted to our office. The incident occurred in a health facility run by an LGU,” Blanco said.

Blanco said though the health department will still coordinate with the LGU concerned.

Michelle Mondigo, Danao public information officer, also said the city cannot directly intervene in the hospital operations since the facility is not run by the LGU. — KBQ (FREEMAN)