In Talisay City: Hospital tagged in baby’s death

CEBU, Philippines - A woman, claiming to be a relative,  has accused Talisay City District Hospital staff of medical mishandling following the death of her newborn niece on Tuesday.

A certain Gerlyn Topacio Gerasmio on Wednesday night uploaded photos on Facebook showing the baby girl apparently with bruises on her upper extremities. The photos were captioned: “Rest in peace Baby Christine… We love you, baby… Dili mi kadawat sa ilang gibuhat. #plspray”

Gerasmio claimed that Baby Christine was delivered at the hospital Tuesday by breech birth, meaning feet first as opposed to the normal head-first position.

It turned out, she said, the facility did not have the equipment to aid the delivery. However, she continued that they were not told to transfer to a more equipped hospital until after two hours.

“Gi-refer nila human sa duha ka oras nga nagtambay ang inahan sa labor room. Nagbiyahe ang inahan padung sa Sotto (Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City), nagtangag ang bata sa pwerta sa mama,” Gerasmio said.

The delivery was soon completed at VSMMC, but the baby was reportedly dead when it came out.

“Niingon lang sila nga bisa’g unsaon nila og lubag sa bata dili mogawas. Pag-abot sa Sotto, wala pa’y five minutes, nigawas ra ang bata. Pero wala na… Unsa’y pasabot, gipraktisan nila og lubag ang bata?” she said.

Gerasmio said they could not believe to see the big black bruise on the baby’s neck when she came out. Except for that, the baby appeared to be healthy and with no deformities in the photos that made rounds online.

Gerasmio also alleged that it took them a while to be cleared from the hospital because the first computation of charges turned out incorrect. The hospital’s ambulance, she said, had yet to gas up amid the emergency.

Learning of the report, Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes yesterday criticized the hospital’s management and asked the Department of Health to launch a thorough investigation into the matter.

He also urged the parents to press charges against the hospital staff involved.

Currently, Talisay City District Hospital is headed by its chief doctor, Agustin Agos.

If he had it his way, De los Reyes said he would immediately sack and relieve the doctor/s and other medical personnel assigned pending investigation and the filing of criminal and administrative charges.

“Mura’g naa’y krimen nga nahimo tungod sa pagpasagad. Murag naa’y malpratice nahitabo,” he said.

For their part, DOH-7 director Jaime Bernadas said they have not received any reports yet about the baby girl’s case.  He said they cannot act on the issue yet as no complaint has been filed with them.

As per protocol, the family or relatives have to formalize their complaint before the hospital for it to investigate. If they are not satisfied with how the case is being handled, then they can also file a complaint before the DOH for a fact-finding investigation.

Bernadas advised the parents to visit his office or see Dr. Agos at the Talisay City District Hospital to tackle their complaints.

“We still have to talk to them and ask questions...then ask the hospital to respond. Then we evaluate the circumstances,” he added.

According to De los Reyes, this is not the first time that he has received complaints about what he described were “poor services” of the hospital.

“Daghan na kaayo ko nadawat nga reklamo diha sa Talisay Hospital. Kinahanglan na gyud tan-awon sa Department of Health,” he said.

The Talisay City District Hospital is under the administrative and technical supervision of the DOH. — /JMD (FREEMAN)