EDITORIAL - Another questionable decision

The death of a one-year-old girl from alleged neglect by personnel of a provincial hospital in Minglanilla town has revived the serious issue about medical misconduct besetting state hospitals across the country.

Last week, Mary Jane Bariquit was admitted to the Minglanilla District Hospital for diarrhea and vomiting. But when her mother could not afford her medication, a doctor at the hospital reportedly told them to just go home.

The mother repeatedly begged for help, but no one from the hospital staff allegedly listened. A few moments later, some hospital personnel reportedly attended to Mary Jane. But help came too late as the child eventually died.

The incident was witnessed by a woman and her boyfriend who reportedly confronted the hospital staff for not immediately attending to the child. This resulted in a brief commotion with the couple being thrown out of the hospital.

Now, the incident had turned into another serious controversy sweeping the government health agency when it became viral online and drew the attention of the mainstream media, triggering another public outcry.   

The issue was not just another simple case of negligence inside a government hospital. It hogged the headlines because the hospital personnel refused to act on the victim because her family could not afford her medication.

The victim could have been spared from death had the hospital personnel responded immediately to her condition the moment she arrived at the hospital. Of course, it would have been a different story had the girl been from a well-to-do family.

Since authorities are focusing their investigation on the apparent negligence committed by some Minglanilla District Hospital personnel, they should see to it that whoever is guilty is punished.       

The reason why lapses continue to occur inside state-run hospitals is that the government has been slow in prosecuting those involved in malpractice. Some of those who commit misconduct would even escape liability since they manage to settle their cases with the complainants.

The case of Mary Jane is just the latest of a string of controversies hounding government hospitals. And it is certainly not going to be the last.