DFA vows to help London nurse

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) gave assurance that assistance will be provided to the Filipina nurse caught on video accidentally turning off her patient’s ventilator, if she so makes a request to the Philippine embassy in London.

DFA-Office of Migrant Workers Affairs (DFA-OMWA) Special Assistant lawyer Enrico Fos said the nurse does not necessarily lose her Filipino citizenship and the government will provide assistance even if she is married to a foreign national.

“We are ready to provide assistance to her,” Fos said.

DFA spokesman Eduardo Malaya said the Philippine embassy in London confirmed that Violeta Aylward, 55, was reportedly caught on video accidentally turning off the ventilator of one of her patients, Mr. Jamie Merrett, in January 2009. 

Aylward became one of Merrett’s caretakers under the auspices of her employer, Ambition24 Care Service.

Since the incident, Malaya said the matter has been the subject of investigation by the United Kingdom Crown Prosecution Service, which did not find sufficient basis to file a criminal case against Aylward.

In October 2009, Aylward was suspended by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and is still awaiting a schedule for a formal hearing on the matter.

The embassy has reached out to the Filipina and conveyed its readiness to assist her. It is also actively monitoring developments of the case.