CJ signs waiver... for his doctors

MANILA, Philippines - Even to leave the hospital, he has to sign a waiver. This time, without conditions.

Chief Justice Renato Corona signed a waiver yesterday afternoon that cleared The Medical City and his doctors of any liability if something happens to him when he temporarily leaves the hospital today to attend the hearing at the Senate impeachment court.

His wife Cristina and daughter Carla also signed the waiver, which was issued after doctors ruled out his possible heart attack and declared his blood sugar and kidney function stable.

In the waiver, the Chief Justice said he is aware of his condition and possible repercussions of his appearance in the impeachment trial.

“I am voluntarily going out on pass on May 25, 2012 to attend the Senate hearing and I take full responsibility for my actions,” Corona declared in his waiver.

Corona’s doctors said his condition remained stable but his appearance at the impeachment hearing at the Senate could put his life at high risk.

The Chief Justice said he fully understands the “possible complications” that could happen to him if he appears in court.

While his physicians have explained to him his medical condition, he said, “I insist that I be allowed to leave.”

An ambulance, accompanied by his medical team, would bring Corona to the Senate when it resumes the impeachment hearing at 2 p.m. today.

After the hearing, his doctors would bring him back to The Medical City in Pasig City, where he has been confined since Tuesday evening.

Dr. Eugenio Jose Ramos, the hospital’s senior vice president for medical services, claimed that if Corona insisted on attending the Senate hearing, they would ask him to sign a waiver absolving them of any liability.

Corona’s doctors led by Ramos, cardiologist Mariann Almajar, and endocrinologist Michael Villa held a press briefing at The Medical City yesterday.

The doctors would accompany Corona to the Senate hearing as part of “its responsibility to ensure continuity of care and patient safety,” he added.

Ramos said the hospital’s fully equipped ambulance would bring Corona to the Senate.

Corona’s lead counsel Serafin Cuevas, who visited Corona at the hospital, announced that his client would attend today’s Senate hearing.

Ramos said that after a series of tests, doctors barred Corona from attending the Senate hearing Wednesday and placed the Chief Justice under a 48-hour observation.

He was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital at about 1 a.m. Thursday because of hypoglycemia.

[The hypoglycemia is one of the dangers in insulin treatment. Hypoglycemia in a patient with heart condition could actually trigger a heart attack,” said Ramos.

Ramos said Corona had undergone a series of tests and his condition remained stable yesterday.

“No adverse events have occurred. We have monitored his biochemical markers; they have remained within normal range,” said Ramos.

Corona’s Troponin T level that was shown to be elevated on admission can be attributed to the patient’s chronically elevated serum creatinine levels secondary to his chronic kidney disease, he added.

“To validate Troponin 1 and CKMB tests were also done serially which yielded normal results. In this regard, an acute myocardial infarction has been ruled out. His blood sugar and kidney function are stable,” said Ramos, noting that Corona would be transferred to a private room at 5 p.m.

Almajar explained that Corona did not suffer a heart attack.

She said Corona, however, needs further tests to prevent a possible heart attack.

Ramos said Corona had two bypass operations in 1995 and 2008, and is also suffering from renal failure and has been a diabetic for almost 20 years.

When pressed on whether Corona could attend the Senate hearing on his own, Ramos said it would be against medical advice, and his family members are intelligent enough to know the risks involved. With Edu Punay