Gov. Defensor orders probe of maternal death at IPH

ILOILO CITY, Philippines - Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. has already ordered an investigation on the cause of death of a baby and a mother during delivery at the Iloilo Provincial Hospital (IPH) in Pototan town recently.

Defensor directed the creation of an investigating team, headed by Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, who is a medical doctor himself, with provincial health officer Patricia Grace Trabado, who is an OB-Gyne doctor, and a representative from the Provincial Legal Office as members.

The governor's action came after the reported death of a 32-year-old mother and her child during delivery at the IPH last week. Initial information showed that the mother suffered from pre-eclampsia, a medical condition in which hypertension arises during pregnancy.

The purpose of the investigation would be to find out if there is liability on the part of the doctor who performed the operation on the patient and if the hospital incurred negligence as well.

In a related development, Dr. Ma. Socorro Quiñon, assistant provincial health officer, said they were informed that the family of the patient were already briefed by the IPH about the incident.

All pregnancies are considered high-risk cases, that is why they are always recommending that childbirth should always be performed in hospitals, she said. - THE FREEMAN