Order made after patient’s death
CEBU, Philippines - All provincial and district hospitals' ambulances are now off limits to hitchhikers.
This was the decision the Cebu Provincial Office following the reported death of a patient blamed on a doctor that hitched a ride in an ambulance bringing the patient to a hospital in Cebu City for further treatment.
"Transporting or picking up strangers/ hospital employees or hitchhikers is already prohibited to prevent delays," Dr. Rene Catan said.
Catan said he issued the order Friday last week to prevent the reoccurrence of a recent incident wherein a doctor allegedly withheld the referral of a patient to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center because she wants to hitch a ride in the ambulance. The doctor from Pinamungahan District Hospital has been blamed for the death of John Michael Laraño, 15, due to internal hemorrhage.
Tomas Laraño, the minor's father, said John Michael's death would have been prevented had he been referred immediately to the VSMMC.
Catan said their investigation found the doctor had "lapses" as to the use of the ambulance, saying "the doctor also admitted that she committed mistakes."
He confirmed that the doctor asked to be taken to her house in Cebu City using the ambulance. On their way to the city, the ambulance stopped a mall in Toledo City to get another hitchhiker, with the ambulance with the patient and Tomas inside being made to wait at the parking area.
Catan, though, said, that the doctor would no longer be sanctioned since the issue has already been settled between the father and the doctor.
"Yes there were lapses and the incident was a learning experience for all of us. Wa na namo gi-elevate ang complaint sa legal (department) because there was already amicable settlement," he said.
Catan said they don't want a similar incident to happen again in the future, which was why they are regulating the use of government-owned ambulance vehicles, which can only be used for official and emergency purposes.
He said the transportation of non-official passengers in even in an empty vehicle on official business shall be restricted and avoided.
In particular, the use of an ambulance in the transport of employees from their homes to places of employment is specifically prohibited, except for those employees engaged in fieldwork, whose line of work make the use of the transportation necessary.
"In cases of accident and emergency, potential liability is created both for the government and the operator of the vehicle. It also affords opportunity for criticism and the appearance of misuse of ambulance," he said adding that they are expecting strict implementation of the order. (FREEMAN)