For releasing body without consent of family, Capitol investigates hospital

CEBU, Philippines - The Integrated Provincial Health Office is currently investigating the Minglanilla District Hospital for allegedly releasing a body to a funeral parlor without the knowledge or consent of the family.

IPHO chief Dr. Cristina Giango said they will include in the investigation the duty personnel of the hospital at the time the body of Wilfredo Castroverde was released and brought to Holy Spirit Funeral Homes in Barangay Tungha-an.

IPHO started the investigation last Tuesday after Castroverde’s first degree cousin and immediate relative, Marcial Castroverde, went to Capitol and sought assistance.

Marcial, of San Fernando town, narrated to IPHO that he took 70-year-old Wilfredo, who was then suffering from asthma, to the hospital through an ambulance last Saturday afternoon.

Upon arrival, he was told by a doctor to buy medicines for the patient’s illness. He headed to find money and bought the medicines.

He came back to the hospital the following morning but was told by the ambulance driver that his patient was already dead.

He then looked for a funeral hearse but when he returned to the hospital to claim the body, he was told that it was already transported to the Holy Spirit Funeral Homes for embalming.

 He then proceeded to the said funeral home where the management allegedly demanded for P8,000 as for embalming and storage.

Marcial decided to seek the help of a radio station, which then called up the funeral parlor.

One Willie Caparas, an embalmer, answered the phone and said that a doctor of the said hospital, whose name he allegedly did not know, asked them to get the body because it already started to stink.

Marcial was guided to the Capitol where Giango referred him to the Provincial Welfare and Development Office, which transacted with the funeral home.

The establishment then agreed for Capitol to pay P5,000 as compromise payment. The Castroverdes worked as garbage collectors.

Giango now wants to know why the corpse ended at the funeral parlor without Marcial’s knowledge.

Giango tasked Rose Jao, IPHO Nurse 3, to lead the investigation.

As of yesterday, the body was already released from the funeral home. — (FREEMAN)