Doc under probe for death of boy, 3

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III ordered an investigation against a doctor assigned in Tuburan District Hospital for his alleged failure to attend to a 3-year-old kid who nearly drowned in Barangay Putat, Tuburan town.

Davide met with the family of victim Chris John Lidres at the Capitol yesterday morning and ordered acting Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Cynthia Genesolango, to look into the complaint against Dr. Jatuporn Vatanagul.

Mini Lidres, 44, and Chris John's grandmother, said they took the boy to the hospital after he  almost drowned in the sea.

Chris John went swimming with his aunt, Marianie Lidres.

Mini said Chris John was immediately rescued but they took him to the hospital at around 12 noon last Sunday to make sure that he is safe.

Mini said that while in the emergency room, the boy was alert and talkative.

Vatanagul checked his condition and said he is fine.

The doctor allegedly left saying he needs to rest, leaving a nurse aid, Chito Chaluag, to attend to the boy.

After awhile, Chris John's aunt, Arlene Aguilar, arrived and noticed that the boy was pale.

This prompted her to ask Chaluag to call Vatanagul, but the nurse allegedly refused because the doctor was resting and would wake up at 3:30 p.m.

Mini said she waited for 30 minutes before the doctor came out of his office and checked Chris John.

“Usa na nila tabanga akong apo nga kamatayon na,” Mini said in a phone interview.

Vatanagul tried to revive Chris John but failed.

Davide ordered Genesolango to find out what actually happened and assured that if there is enough basis, he will impose the appropriate disciplinary action on the doctor.

But the hospital chief, Dr. Esteban Ligaray, said over Bantay Radyo that Vatanagul attended to the patient, contrary to the claim of the family.

Ligaray said that when the victim arrived, Vatanagul immediately attended to him.

After he examined the boy,  Vatanagul reportedly advised the relatives to have him admitted but the family allegedly refused.

When the condition of the patient deteriorated, Ligaray said that the attending physician advised them to bring him to a Cebu City hospital.

Ligaray said that the patient was conscious at the time and was continuously monitored.

He was also given oxygen to help his breathing despite the refusal of the family to have him confined but the boy died at around 4 p.m.

Ligaray said there was no autopsy done but the diagnosis stated that the patient died of cardiopulmonary arrest secondary to aspiration due to near drowning.  (FREEMAN)