Pressure wins in VSMMC scandal: Duque identifies 3 docs, 2 nurses
The Department of Health finally made public yesterday the names of five medical personnel of the
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III issued the order to name VSMMC head surgeon Dr. Philips Leo Arias, assistant surgeon Dr. Angelo Linawagan, surgeon Dr. Max Joseph Montecillo, nursing attendant Rosemarie Villareal, and circulating nurse Carmina Sapio as the ones against whom criminal and administrative charges have already been filed Monday by the victim before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the incident.
The incident involved the removal of a spray deodorant cannister from the rectum of a 39-year-old gay florist, where it got lodged following a kinky sex tryst with a stranger on New Year’s Eve. Apparently, while the patient was under sedation, the procedure was recorded on video from a cellphone and the footage eventually found its way to YouTube, the video-sharing website on the Internet.
The three-minute footage showed an operating room full of people, instead of the usual complement of about six or seven. And the people were shouting, laughing, clapping and otherwise making fun of the predicament of the patient. Some were recording the event with their cellphones.
Over time, after jumping from cellphone to computer to cellphone worldwide, the footage reached the patient himself, and in his shame went public to condemn the act.
He was not alone, as the public was up in arms over the violations of his dignity and his rights. A number of agencies jumped on the issue until the hospital came up with its recommendations to sue those involved administratively. But no names were made public, causing an even more noisy uproar, until Duque gave the order.
Dr. Susana Madarieta, the regional health director, told The Freeman after her meeting with Duque in Manila that the five medical personnel will likely be suspended preventively for the duration of their case and could be dismissed from government service if found guilty of grave misconduct, breach of protocol, and gross neglect of duty.
The five medical personnel were among close to 20 people in the operating room at the time of the controversial procedure.
In a press briefing, Duque expressed dismay that the controversial video-taping of the surgery had spoiled what could have become a “ good and ideal ” case study for medical students, since the VSMMC medical staff successfully removed the perfume cannister without performing an invasive operation on the patient.
He said the case could even land in medical books had it not been for the behavior of the medical staff involved and the inappropriate video-taping. He admitted that upon viewing the video, it was clear that there was a “ breach of protocol and procedures ” at the VSMMC.
Also yesterday, party-list Rep. Risa Baraquel filed a resolution calling for an investigation into the scandal. House Resolution 524 calls on the committees on civil service and professional regulations and civil, political and human rights to
conduct a probe on abusive physicians, nurses, interns and medical attendants.
Dr. Rey Santos, the incoming president of the Philippine Medical Association, criticized the “ unprofessional “ behavior of those involved, saying the scandal could have far-reaching effects on the local medical community. “ From medical school to residency, ethical practice is being taught doctors. You could not even be a member of the Philippine College of Surgeons unless you’ve proven that you are ethical in your practice for two years, ” he explained. — with Philippine Star News Service, Wenna Berondo, Fred Laguido/NLQ/JST
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